The day after a gunman killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech, about 400 members of the Princeton community gathered in Richardson Auditorium to express their solidarity and sorrow.
The April 17 service included prayer, a moment of silence in honor of the victims and their families, and musical performances by students.
“Princeton and Virginia Tech are partners in research, teaching, learning, caring, leading, and serving,” said Provost Christopher Eisgruber ’83. “Most of all, we are partners in the life-affirming project of education.”
Rob Biederman ’08, president of the Undergraduate Student Government, emphasized the solidarity of Princeton students with their peers in Virginia. “While on different campuses, we are experiencing college together,” he said. “The events that shook Virginia Tech’s campus should resonate with us forever.”
Paul Raushenbush, associate dean of religious life, encouraged students to reach out to one another and stressed the University’s support systems, including counseling.