Person of the Week: The Victims at Va. Tech

April 20, 2007 — -- This week's "Person of the Week" is not one person -- but a group of people -- the students of Virginia Tech.

We were struck by how they hung together in the worst of tragedies. Support for the killed and wounded was everywhere on this campus after gunman Seung-hui Cho attacked students and faculty, killing 32 people before turning his weapon on himself.

While grief has been apparent, so was the students' determination that they would not let what happened Monday define or destroy their school.

"We're the only ones that really understand what went on. We're the students. We're the ones it directly affects. … We're grieving," said Amy Steele, the editor in chief of Virginia Tech's student newspaper, The Collegiate Times. "At the same time we need to let other students know what's going on on campus. We're trying to dispel rumors and give them nothing but the truth."

The truth was awful -- but the young people we encountered or learned about proved to be pretty wonderful, such as Ryan Clark. The 22-year-old from Martinez, Ga., was killed during the attack, but was pursuing a triple major at Virginia Tech, while most students struggle to get through college with just one.

His brother, Bryan Clark, said his sibling loved teaching music to disabled kids at a summer camp. "It was probably his favorite place in the world. He cared so much to devote himself and his time, his passion to others."

Among the wounded was the resourceful Kevin Tyler Sterne -- he tied an electrical cord around his injured leg to survive the wound. Doctors said Sterne's makeshift tourniquet saved his life.

Derek O'Dell was also among the wounded. He was shot in the arm during a lecture, and estimates 75 percent of the people in his class that morning were shot. When he talks about that morning, he does so with a heavy heart and a lump in his throat.

"I'm thankful for everything I have today and that I'm here. It's just really amazing to be here," O'Dell said.