Nathan Jones

Jessica Maroclo

Nathan Jones (senior-biochemistry and molecular biology) said he and Jessica Maroclo (senior-psychology), who is listed as a Virginia resident in the Penn State student directory, went to a Halloween party this year under the impression that only a “small group” of friends would see their get-ups.

I know it does not represent a great majority of Penn State students, or of people in
general, but come on people. Starting with a picture on Facebook, this has now created a firestorm of outrage.

With kids these days, nothing shocks me anymore, except Americans apathy to it all:

Two Penn State students, dressed as Virginia Tech shooting victims, at a Halloween party have enraged people from the Virginia Tech community, as well as the entire country. It only took a couple of idiots from Penn State to detract from all the great things the student body did after the trajedy.

I’ve seen all of the controversial pictures. They are of two Penn State students and are extremely graphic. Both are wearing Virginia Tech t-shirts and elaborate make-up. Both have bullet holes in their bodies.

“It’s not that it was funny, it’s that we are notorious and infamous in the state college, so we have to do things that push the envelope just for shock value,” he said.

Penn State officials were quick to respond to the costumes,”We are appalled that these individuals would display this level of insensitivity, indifference, and lack of common decency and sense by dressing up in this manner,” the school said.

“The fact that one of these individuals is actually from Virginia, makes it even more difficult to understand. Just because something is within the bounds of the Constitution and free speech, does not mean it should be undertaken. We certainly condemn these ugly and senseless actions. Most Penn Staters are as offended by this as anyone from Virginia Tech would be– and rightfully so. These two people do not represent 90,000 Penn State students. They represent themselves.”

After seeing the pictures, a Virginia Tech student created a Facebook group called, “People Against This Costume.” Some of the upset members have left threatening messages to the Penn State students.

“This is a group of college students who now think it’s trendy to be upset about their friends being killed,” one of the two Penn State students who wore the costume said. “I don’t know what they teach people in Virginia Tech, but at Penn State we don’t learn to threaten people with murder to teach them that murdering is wrong.”

He goes on to defend the pictures.

“The thing is, everybody’s making a big stink about Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech was 32 deaths out of the 26 thousand that happen in America everyday,” he said. “That’s the problem with college students. They all live in an ivory tower of privilege. They don’t understand, when it all boils down to it, it’s someone wearing a costume.”

Reaction from Tech students and Blacksburg residents was disgust.

“That somebody would have the nerve to mock [the victims]. They were really good people,” said local business owner, Carol Gwin.

Gwin knew three of the victims in the shootings and considered them cherished friends.

Remember last year at the Blue and White game when we spelled out VT in honor of the shooting victims at Virginia Tech? Or all the Virginia Tech t-shirts everyone was wearing? Or the Penn State shirts in maroon and orange? Or the $110,000 Family Clothesline donated from the sale of those shirts? Well it all was just ruined, cause some people dressed like a “Virginia Tech Shooting Victims” on Halloween. People, if it’s on Facebook, someone will find it.

We first came across an article on WSLS’ website, the NBC station in Roanoke Virginia, which says that they found pictures of two Penn State students who dressed up like Virginia Tech shooting victims for Halloween and posted the pictures on Facebook. It’s surprising The Collegian staff missed this when they wrote the piece on the “gay KKK member,” “Aunt Jemima” and “pregnant black girls” that people dressed up like this Halloween (wtf is wrong with us here?)

Anyway, a “People against this costume” group was formed on Facebook (which is closing in on has over 4,000 members) in response to the costumes. The administrator of the group has blacked (browned?) out the face of the girl in the photo and removed any discussion of who she is. They even closed down the wall for a while because of some threatening messages that were posted, but it’s back up.

They wanted shock value? How about a taser?

Since the start of the Facebook group, the “victims” have started to receive some threatening messages, to which he says, “This is a group of college students who now think it’s trendy to be upset about their friends being killed,” one of the two Penn State students who wore the costume said. “I don’t know what they teach people in Virginia Tech, but at Penn State we don’t learn to threaten people with murder to teach them that murdering is wrong.”

Can we really give this a disdain for the entire university? If the tragedy taught us anything it taught us not to judge an entire community because of one sick individual. Penn State gave great support last spring.

“The thing is, everybody’s making a big stink about Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech was 32 deaths out of the 26 thousand that happen in America everyday,” he said. “That’s the problem with college students. They all live in an ivory tower of privilege. They don’t understand, when it all boils down to it, it’s someone wearing a costume.”

WOW! Just wow.

If you have any info on who these people are let us know.

CNN

If coach Phil ever shoots up the UT locker room, we’ll be all over him like one of Vick’s pit-bulls on a poodle.

This statement was recently made in the Bristol Herald Courier by editor J Todd Foster. If you’re not familiar with Foster, he’s the subject of numerous controversies. He seems to tick people off wherever he goes. He’s jumped around from one periodical to the next, encountering lawsuits, and angering readers unfortunate enough to glance upon his writing.

He’s always been a jerk, as any journalist who’s ever had the displeasure of working with him will tell you. This time with his cheap shot at Virginia Tech, making light of the horrible tragedy, he’s just gone too far.

Be sure to let him know what you think.

jfoster@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2513