6 people were killed and 16 wounded at Northern Illinois University yesterday when an award winning former sociology graduate student opened fired on a large lecture class then killed himself. No motives have been found by police.

The Chicago Tribune has obtained an interview with the teacher of the lecture class in which the shooting took place (Introduction to Ocean Science).

The blog Cold Spring Shops has outlined many of the events, student responses, and even provided a graphic of the layout of the campus.

Currently this is the leading story at the Chronicle of Higher Education webpage

In the haze of Valentines day bliss and dissertation blues, I completely missed this story yesterday. My tv was off, and I didn't check the news sites.

There are no words to encapsulate this tragedy.

Today's service in Memorial Church to remember the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting was simple and solemn. The names of the victims were read, each followed by a strike of a bowl-shaped object (I'm not sure what it was), sending clean, lingering soundwaves throughout the church.

After the names were read, observers were invited to line up to light a candle for the victims and to comment if they wished. A few people did speak, including a man who is an alum of both Stanford and Virginia Tech. He read a poem delivered by professor and poet Nikki Giovanni during Virginia Tech's convocation, which spoke of the school's strength and ability to overcome this tragedy. The poem ends with: "We will prevail. We will prevail. We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech."

Students, faculty, administrators, and other members of the Stanford community loosely filled the church pews for the service, which was presided over by Dean McLennan and Associate Dean Sanders.

After the service, I felt nauseous, and almost started crying when I spoke to my mom on the phone afterwards. This is painful for everyone, even all the way across the country.

Outside, a reporter interviews a student.

Our petition of solidarity with the students of Virginia Tech is at 488 signatures. I'm hoping to send it to them when we reach 500.

The New York Times is covering the release of footage, photos, and writings from the killer.

Terrible tragedies have unfolded today at Virginia Tech. Let us, the Stanford student body, send a message of support to the students there. Sign the petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/prayer4v/petition.html

Reports are showing at least 31 are dead in the Virginia Tech shooting. I don't know what to say.

A gunman opened fire in a dormitory and a classroom at a college in Virginia on Monday, killing at least 30 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman also was killed, and at least 22 other people were injured.

“Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions,” said Charles Steger, president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, in southwest Virginia. “The university is shocked and indeed horrified.”

The shootings spread panic and confusion at the college, which is popularly known as Virginia Tech. Witnesses reporting students jumping out the windows of a classroom building to escape the gunfire.

More updates from the Collegiate Times.

One of my favorite t-shirts.

Tonight, the Stanford-educated President of the National Rifle Association spoke in Kresge auditorium. The title of the speech, lovingly, was "Firearms in America Today Represent Freedom." The flier for the event notes that the President, Sandy Froman, is the first Jewish and second female president of the NRA.

Diversity has made great strides.