I went to UVA undergrad. My mom went there for nursing school. My dad for law school. I came to UVA as a hippie Vermonter who did not own a pair of black "hoochie" pants in the land of sororities. But I left with great friends and a fantastic education, and there are times I miss Charlottesville and UVA.
There is a rival, in Virginia, between schools. It's not uncommon. My friend M and I always ribbed each other in Peace Corps. She was a Hokie, I was a 'Hoo, and we thought our individual schools were superior.
UVA has a bridge that belongs to the students. It's called Beta Bridge. Almost every night you find different student groups, sports teams, frats, individuals, painting it, advertising something or other happening on campus. I remember one morning I woke up and turned the corner, onto Rugby Road to see the bridge painted in pale yellow with blue writing saying "Amy, I'd do the stars with you, anytime. Will you Marry me?". Every female on the UVA campus melted that day. I still have a photo hanging in my room of the bridge painted when the new rowers were chosen for the team my freshman year. Same bridge, 6000 coats of paint later.
Below I am posting a letter in its entirety from the VA Tech student government to the UVA community. It's true--this past week we have not been 'Hoos v. Hokies, we've all been together, past and present, students and alums, in solidarity. Enjoy.
Date: April 17, 2007
On behalf of 30,000 students, administrators, and our Virginia Tech community, I cannot begin to express our gratitude for the outpouring of sympathy, support, and compassion UVA has shown us in the past two days.
It is an understatement to say the aftermath of our losses has been emotionally trying for us. The realization of losing 32 valuable lives in our Virginia Tech family is something that we are trying desperately to recover from. But even in the most difficult day of Virginia Tech history, we have found strength-it is your university in particular that has sustained us, far beyond what you will ever know.
How do we thank you for your students and faculty gathered here today to memorialize our victims and to share in our sorrow. How do we thank you for the initiative and commitment your student government made towards finding 30,000 candles for our grieving campus so that our student leaders could focus on healing and comforting instead. How do we thank you for the hundreds of Hokies who saw your painted bridge, and were moved to tears? How do we thank you for the way your students instantly put aside our infamous rivalry to the point where the greatest measures of compassion from another institution have been from you?
Your aid has had such a profound impact upon our students. Please know what UVA is doing is being noticed, is making a difference, and is nothing short of extraordinary.
Thank you for being a testament to the best of collegiate student leadership-and to humanity in general. In what we have been calling the darkest night Virginia Tech has ever seen, you are one of our brightest lights. The strong alliance that has been formed between our school and yours is part of our foundation in moving forward.
From our hearts to yours, thank you for your noble efforts. May you also find solace and restoration as we grieve together as students and as a nation. In or out of times of need, Virginia Tech will stand beside you as fellow students, Virginians, and most importantly, as friends.
With gratitude,
Elizabeth Hart
Virginia Tech
Student Government Association
Director of Public Relations
1 comment:
I can attest to the VT support last weekend in Charlottesville. I was there for the first time and honestly forgot what school I was visiting because there was so much VT pride showing: cars were decked out with the wind socks, people were wearing VT sweatshirts, etc. It was amazing. Someone had to tell me that the schools are historically rival to each other.
Amazing.
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