In a season of graduations, it can be difficult to understand how such a momentous event could be shadowed by sorrow.

On days of celebration, triumph and accomplishment, sorrow was still felt on the Virginia Tech campus following commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12.

Memorials placed in front of Burris Hall in honor of 33 fallen Hokies and a campus swarming with local and state law enforcement reminded some graduates, visitors, faculty and community members of the tragedy -- making these days of triumph at Virginia Tech bittersweet for some.

Instead of the normal cheers, chants and conversation of parties and plans for the future, there were some graduates with their heads low following the final ceremonies on Saturday May 12. A university and community which has tried so hard to overcome sadness and sorrow had some graduates fall victim to the attraction of the memorials on campus and the draw of the grieving process.

"I was there for commencement and though there was tremendous grief and sorrow, the spirit of commencement was felt," said Mark Owczarski, director of news and information at Virginia Tech. "To have been there in the stadium and witness the applause and cheers and standing ovations. ... It was truly wonderful. It was a unique and bittersweet blend and on that day to characterize it as only sadness would be a disservice. ... There was a sense of triumph -- 'We will prevail.'"

The words "We will prevail." in this usage are taken from a poem written by distinguished Virginia Tech professor and author Nikki Giovanni. The poem was delivered as the closing to the university's convocation ceremony on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 -- the day after the shooting spree on the campus. Excerpts from the poem have been motivating to many members of the Virginia Tech community and family and can be found on billboards, road signs and T-shirts.

The memorials, which seemed to briefly sink the demeanor of so many students, graduates, faculty and visitors were placed in front of Burris Hall by a group of students known as Hokies United. Hokies United is a student-run campus organization which responds to global tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11.

One of the most obvious sparks of emotions and even controversy on the day of the final commencement ceremonies was the 33rd memorial stone -- a stone marking the memorial for Seung-Hui Cho.

According to Owczarski, the Hokies United group laid the memorials on April 17 with 32 memorial "Hokie" stones.

"Later in that week," Owczarski said, "some unidentified person decided to lay a 33rd stone. Hokies United decided to not alter, edit or change in any way, shape or form the grieving or expression of grief by anyone. So, the fact that someone wanted to grieve for the shooter was a grief that this community willingly allowed to occur. It is a wonderful notion of how grief is individual and how it takes its own forms and own time."

Also casting a cloud on those days of graduation were Norris Hall and a tent where most of the received expressions of condolences were displayed.

The gloom of Norris Hall, which is adjacent to the memorials in front of Burris Hall, came from the knowledge it was the place where Cho killed 25 students, five faculty members and himself on April 16. The school had the building fenced off and there were whispers the university is planning on demolishing the building and creating a memorial.

At the tent sheltering the condolences -- directly below Burris Hall -- there were some graduates in tears as they read inscriptions on the display boards. Overall, the sense was a positive one, as it was obvious the world had opened its arms to Virginia Tech.

Owczarski said the condolences tend to spark some sadness and sorrow however, it is incredible to know that there are so many people out there who care about Virginia Tech and its community.

"It is wonderful to know that we do not stand alone with the world and the nation," said Owczarski. "The expressions of condolences sent by other churches, schools and etc. continue to come in and are overwhelming in a good way. It is a great feeling to know that the world is with Virginia Tech."

T&D Online News Editor Brian Troutman can be reached at btroutman@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-534-1060.

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