A few minutes ago, the news broke across Twitter that someone had been shot on the campus of Virginia Tech. Covering the news for BlogHer today, I felt my stomach clench: not again.
I found myself recalling Professor Kim Pearson's advice here on BlogHer on covering tragedy:
Whatever the reactions, and whoever we are, it is the human response that must be remembered, protected and honored. As with physicians, the cardinal rule for journalists and bloggers covering a tragedy of this dimension should be, "First, do no harm."
And the powerful words of Leslie Madsen Brooks, who wrote:
I take it personally when schools and universities find themselves in this maelstrom of violence. I can't help but feel that someone has invaded my classroom, threatened my students, destroyed my sense of security. I wonder what this means for me - as a teacher in the past, as a professor now: will it change the way we operate? will it alter the way we think? will it have no affect at all?
I'm following @CollegiateTimes and #HokiesUnited and watching the outpouring of support and concern coming from all over the world for Virginia Tech. If you hear of news, please leave updates in the comments.
Rita Arens authors Surrender Dorothy and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak. She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.