Eastern Mennonite University will join other schools and organizations in observing a moment of silence at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Apr. 23, marking the one-week anniversary of the Virginia Tech campus shootings and loss of 32 lives.
Persons are invited to gather at the fountain in the center of campus. Following a period of silence, the chapel chimes on the roof of Lehman Auditorium will ring, followed by a circle of prayer.
At Virginia Tech, 32 bell tolls will sound in memory of each victim, timed with the release of 32 white balloons from the Drillfield. A release of 1,000 orange and maroon balloons signifying Hokie unity and spirit will immediately follow. Classes are scheduled to resume on Monday.
“This one-week anniversary is significant, especially since classes will resume at Tech,” said Ken L. Nafziger, vice president for student life. “The EMU community wants to stand in solidarity with everyone there as well as continue to pray that the healing process can move forward,” Dr. Nafziger added.
The final exam period at EMU begins Monday afternoon, Apr. 23 and runs through 12:40 p.m. Friday, Apr. 27.