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Show Monday, April 23. 2007 DAlMY' HERALD A6 to school Back r -- A K Continued from A l "I want to go back. It's just really strange to just stop go- ing," said Paul Deyerle, a sophomore from Roanoke who was helping a friend move belongings from the dormitory where another close friend, Ryan Clark, was among those killed in the worst shooting massacre in modern U.S. history. A number of students living in West Ambler Johnston Hall have asked to be relocated elsewhere. "1 need to keep going back," Deyerle said, struggling for words. "It seems like every other facet of my life is different now, so I have to." A number of students said they had been drawn to the comforts of home immediately after the shooting, but now were drawn back to the tight-knVirginia Tech community. "When we hit (Route) 460 and we could see the campus, we both started crying," said sophomore Ashleigh Shifflett, eat ing a picnic lunch with her sister Regan near memorials to the victims on the central campus lawn. "I was happy to see my family, but I felt like I needed to be here, and when I came back here, it was like I'm home." Virginia Tech officials say their top priority is the victims' families, and they have given each of them a private address and direct phone number for President Charles !) - ... . . it Christina O'ConnerRoanoke Times A girl lays a Steger. Administrators have canceled big events such as the spring football game and postponed a fundraising campaign. The goal is to begin restarting Va. signed hat on a stone memorial for one of the shooting victims, on the Drill Field during a visit to the Virginia Tech campus Sunday the sixth floor of West Ambler Johnston when the rampage began two floors below, was not sure what, if any, work she would be doing the rest of the year. But that wasn't why she returned to campus from her ligious services and were seen heading in and out of counseling centers. State police plan to maintain a security presence on campus at least through Monday. Students say they welcome home in Midlothian. the outpouring of support they "I want to be back this week have received, but they have even if I don't take my exams, grown noticeably weary of the news media. The Student just to be with people," Government Association asked said. "Then you go home, and you end the year on reporters to leave by the start of classes Monday. a good note." "Our students are ready to Many returning students stopped by the campus lawn to start moving forward, and the best we can do that is to get visit memorials to the victims and sign posters of rememthe campus back to normal," Liz Hart, director of public brance. A number attended re academic life but without pushing the university's 26,000 students too Hard. "I don't know what else you could do," said John Rossi, chairman of the math department. "A student, I don't know how much they're going to be able to learn at this point. Maybe some can. But I think some students are just not going to be able to come, so why would you penalize them? There's going to be some faculty dealing with that, too." Gam-bardel- Freshman Brittany who was asleep on suwm The Brand You Trust... In a Full Line of Trimmers! V lWy t'MSWv7 1 " k "A'll' La, I H - tK Nf i TvlS rampage at Columbine High School, someone put up 15 ''' wooden' crosses on a hillside Continued from Al overlooking the campus, in"I'm really impressed with cluding one each for shooters the maturity of Virginia Tech ., Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. people," said the professor,.whq .Not long after, angry parents teaches electronics and computtore down the killers' crosses. In the materials he left beer engineering, and who is also hind, Cho referred to Harris faculty adviser to the Korean Student Association. With the and Klebold as "martyrs" and his "brothers." memorial, he said, "they also treat him as a victim." Virginia Tech junior Brian Skipper is an engineering Following the April 20, 1999 Looking South - Lightweight, reliable and fast cutting j Dual line AUT0CUT j " TapAction" cutting head NOW JUST TO: U $17995 P$$m & FS I 55 R Trimmer $19995 UPGRADE TO: NOW JUST 5TIHL $OOQ95 VT FS i R j Professional f cutting head -- if 1 LAND FARMS shopping mall." Ed Spencer, the associate vice president of student affairs and husband of the admissions director, said the university was heartened that one alumnus showed up at the admissions office before it opened last Tuesday to hand deliver the $400 deposit for his son to enroll next fall. Hart, the student government official, said she expected few to leave. "We're not leaving," she said. "This is where we want to be. There's a greater sense of loyalty. There's more Hokie pride than ever." major who knew five of Cho's victims, including his faculty adviser, professor G.V. Skipper isn't angry that Cho has a stone, but he's not sure it belongs among those of his friends. "I think I'd put something up somewhere for him, to show some compassion somewhere for him," Skipper, 21, of York-towVa., said as he looked at Cho's stone. "I can show compassion, but it's hard to understand and comprehend certain things, I guess." Along with the flowers, maroon pompoms and other mementos were notes to each of the dead. Even to Cho. "I just want you to know I am not mad at you. I don't hate you," wrote a woman who signed her letter only as Laura. "I know what it is like to have demons and I can't even imagine how awful it was for you." In another note, a man named Dave said he hoped something positive would come of "the damage you inflicted." "I hope that if I ever meet anyone like you I will have the courage and strength to reach out and change his or her life for the better," Dave wrote. "I hope the anger towards you that resides in so many hearts turns to forgiveness. I hope the earthly troubles of all 33 of you are a fleeting, distant memory." He closed the letter with the word "Pax." Peace. 3 s J J 00 Blacksburg, i.l4 r 3 I XS'' e (JcSfi?rjpl g ? I Lower vibration for comfortable operation I " Alwyt wtar prolactin ippanl s racomminded in your f j hsm,cHoHmMu,l...).ff ! : m American Fork Duff Shelley Mower & Cycle 260 E. 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Said Cheryl Gambardella, Brittany Gambardella's mother, as she helped her daughter unload the car: "We love this school. You always have concerns, but not because it's Virginia Tech. It could happen in a Memorial NOW REDUCED TO: S J JI kA if.-W'- I nSC7 deci- sions. sions sleepless university officials have not had time to consider, such as what to do with d Norris Hall, the building where 31 people died, including Cho. There is also the question of how many students will return next fall. Officials acknowledge they have received some inquiries about transferring, but it's unclear how many will do so. They are urging ,:, 45 Trimmerf--ft ,FS students not to rush into relations for the SGA, said in a telephone interview. Students don't want "anything external remind to us it will be a difficult road. 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