Student Reflects on Manhunt Experience The scene on campus was anything but normal for the first day of classes at Virginia Tech. I started to make my way down Kent Street from my Media Writing class in Shanks Hall. Upon leaving class, everything seemed fine. The sun was shining, people were embracing and talking about their summers and about how early they had to wake up for their first classes. As I was leaving the Upper Quad, walking downhill towards my next class, I noticed several students running towards me panting, sweating and looking extremely scared. I knew something was terribly wrong. Although I know I should have turned around at that time, I kept walking towards the source of the chaos as if in a trance. The closer I came to Squires the more intense the situation became. People were now crying and sprinting away from the building. The next thing I knew, a huge man, about 6’ 4” had his hands raised high motioning people to go away from Squires. At the time, I could only focus on his enormous gun that sat in his holster. The gun seemed to glisten in the sun, shiny and black and very dangerous. Without thinking, I just turned and ran with the crowd. My heart was pounding at least a mile a minute, and suddenly I became the sweaty, panting student running the opposite direction. It took me a while to realize that the man telling others to move away from the building was a SWAT team member. Eventually I snapped out of my trance and the reality of what was going on hit me. Someone allegedly spotted a murderer on campus. I did not feel safe at Virginia Tech anymore. I saw a friend on the Drillfield and hopped into her car. She took me back to my apartment where I locked the door and stayed glued to the television for the rest of the afternoon. This vivid first day of school will never be forgotten. |