I am writing in my capacity as both a graduate of Virginia Tech and current faculty member here at Florida Atlantic University. I have been so moved by the flood of heartfelt condolences from FAU and PBCC students and the meaningful vigils and events on campus that, on behalf of the Virginia Tech family (which we call “Hokie Nation”), I wish to extend to the entire FAU and PBCC communities a sincere appreciation for your thoughts and prayers.

I have been in touch with and will continue to contact various student, faculty, and alumni groups at Virginia Tech about the outpouring of support shown by FAU and PBCC students. I encourage you to continue to engage in an open conversation about this most horrific of tragedies. Why? Because talking about an emotional experience helps in the healing process. Because college is about more than textbooks and exams; it is about coming of age and learning to handle trials and tribulations. Because the tragedy at Virginia Tech will be that much more tragic if nothing good comes from it.

As we saw in the days after the massacre, thousands of students on Virginia Tech’s campus and on campuses here and around the country gathered to make a difference. If enough young people continue to promote a dialog on such issues as violence in society and the need for viable gun control then maybe, just maybe, something good will come of this tragedy and the innocent students who lost their lives would not have died in vain.

Dr. Robert WatsonFAU Professor of Political ScienceVT class of `85