Legislation that could have suspended three multi-million-dollar wrongful death suits filed against Virginia Tech in the wake of the April 16, 2007, shootings
has died in a General Assembly committee. Good, now we will have a full accounting.
Virginia Tech President Charlie Steger and EVP James Hyatt will now stand before the Bar and answer for the their terrible poor judgment on April 16, 2007. Unfortunately Virginia Tech and state taxpayers will likely pay the bill.
This all could have been mitigated if Charlie had done what Virginia Tech teaches all Hokies - take personal responsibility for your actions (or lack of), recognize your failings, accept the consequences, and strive to be better. Charlie is a good guy, but he failed to make the best decision for his students. Service is the highest aspiration of Virginia Tech; all alumni know this as our charter. President Steger is in service to lead and protect his students.
Steger failed to acknowledge that on that cold day in April, he frittered precious time, and ceded good judgment to law enforcement advisers chasing a phantom, while a killer stalked his campus and mailed press releases. He failed in his moment of trial, and there are costs to failure - 32 dead, 25 wounded, countless lives damaged.
It is past time for Charlie Steger to resign. We thank him for his service and wish him well.
More on this story,
here, and
here.
