Family and friends of the victims of Monday’s massacre and Virginia Tech University students and faculty have become the target of a massive outpouring of emotional and financial support from around the world. And many people are using Facebook.com to rally behind the Hokies. More than 500 Facebook groups have been created since news broke of the mass shootings, and people are joining in droves. Many of the groups serve as a venue for emotional support, but some have practical purposes too. Cell phone networks and phone lines became jammed following the shootings as people tried to reach friends and family who may have fallen victim to the killer. But one Virginia Tech student created a Facebook group, “I’m ok at VT,” to let others know they escaped. People are also using the group to exchange news on the status of the injured and can view a working list of those who perished. The group has attracted more than 3,460 members as of Wednesday afternoon. LSU students have also jumped on the Facebook bandwagon. Several of them have created groups in support of Virginia Tech. Creator of “Tigers for Tech” Amanda McElfresh, University alumna, said that besides being a practical tool, Facebook allows people in the “IM generation” to express emotions. “It’s a way for people to really express themselves,” McElfresh said. “A lot of the time people can do that better in writing.” Joseph Stern, history freshman, started the group “LSU Loves Va. Tech” the day he heard news of the shooting. More than 700 people have joined. “I just felt like for everybody that’s a college student, there’s a little place in their spirit where we feel for the students for Virginia Tech,” Stern said. “We go to different schools and everything, but as a society, we’re all the same.” Vinny Velarde, marketing junior, and Jay St. Pierre, mass communication sophomore and Daily Reveille sports writer, created a Facebook group late Tuesday night called “Black out the Student Section.” It has attracted more than 140 members. The group originally urged University students to wear black to the football game against Virginia Tech Sept. 8. But after reviewing suggestions from members, the creators decided to encourage students to wear maroon and orange – Hokie colors – rather than purple and gold. “It’s not much, but it’s a show of unity,” Velarde said.”[It shows] the compassion that LSU has.” But not all groups show positive support for the people affected by the shooting. A Michigan State University student created the group “I am completely unaffected by the Virginia Tech Shooting,” which shows a picture of a young child wearing Virginia Tech paraphernalia flipping his middle finger. The group has 40 members so far. The creator posted in the group description, “Yea its a tragedy, but why are you making a big deal about it unless you knew someone who went there. If you did, please go ahead cry and join 1000 facebook groups about how sad its going to make you…” Other groups of similar nature include “A tribute to those who dont care who died at the Virginia Tech Shooting,” “I dont care what happened to Virginia Tech” and “Im, not gonna pretend i care for VT students, just to make me look better.” One group, “I feel sorry for the shooter at Virginia Tech,” places blame on those who allegedly drove him to kill. While another group, “I blame the entire asian community for the Virginia Tech massacre” blames the entire race for the shooting.
—–Contact Leah Square at [email protected]