The Virginia Tech tragedy.

It has been called the deadliest civilian shooting in the United States. What started as just an ordinary day suddenly became a horrific massacre.

After the Virginia Tech shootings, SHU took action.

A global email was sent to the university community by Dr. Anthony Cernera. Though emergency policy changes and revisions have been discussed, Cernera has not been available to comment on the situation at Sacred Heart and across the nation since the horrendous events last Monday.

But Jack Fernandez, director of Public Safety, is one individual who has addressed emergency plans with school officials.

"We have reviewed the emergency policy and are still in the reviewing process," said Fernandez. "We have formed a committee comprised of Residential Life, Buildings and Grounds, Public Relations, university administration, and Public Safety. More committee members will be added as time goes on."

When asked if there were any problems found with the old security policy, Fernandez said that the university community needed to find other ways to "communicate."

"No changes have been made yet [in the current policy] since the Virginia Tech shootings," said Fernandez.

The current emergency policy consists of several procedures, including fire and emergency evacuations, along with hostage negotiations.

Fernandez has yet to meet with Cernera directly about the emergency policy. "We have not met yet. We do plan to. He has met with my superiors," said Fernandez. "I have yet to obtain student feedback on the shootings; the only feedback received is the 'shock' of this tragedy."

As word of the Virginia Tech shootings spread throughout campus early last week, many students, like Jim Daly, student body president, senior, Hazlet, N.J., had concerns as to whether or not the Virginia Tech administration did enough.

"Obviously it is hard to say whether Virginia Tech did enough. Nobody ever thinks that something to this magnitude could ever happen to them," said Daly. "Nobody was ready for it.

"People have approached me about the shootings and what SHU is doing. Sacred Heart is reevaluating its safety procedures at this time. Sacred Heart is much smaller than Virginia Tech, so it would be easier to control if a situation ever broke out here."

Colleges and universities across the nation have been faced with daunting questions concerning a tragedy of this magnitude.

But with physical loss, there is also emotional, mental and spiritual distress.

"Probably every campus in the country is asking the same questions and reexamining how to handle this situation," said Rev. Mark Villano, director of Campus Ministry, Hamden. "I think that we can have the confidence that our administration is doing the same.

"Our faith gives great support and comfort at times like this and reminds us that Gods goodness is greater than any pain and suffering humans can inflict on one another."

If Villano was to encounter a student with deep and dark issues that could be a possible threat to others, he is confident that Campus Ministry could provide a safe haven for that individual.

"We [Campus Ministry] try to reach out to create a safe place for that individual where they feel comfortable to share their feelings," said Villano. "And if the student or the individual feels the need to be counseled I would be more than happy to talk to them and help them seek counseling."

Villano also believes that campus organizations did a great job with helping the university community deal with the Virginia Tech tragedy.

"Student Government did a great job getting people together the ceremony on the athletic fields on Friday to commemorate those lost after the attack," said Villano.

Daly was impressed with the student response on Friday, too.

"We had over 600 students turn out for the picture on the football field," said Daly. "The numbers were amazing; we were not expecting that many [students].

"It is good that the SHU community wanted to get out and show their respect for the fallen students and staff of Virginia Tech. It really meant a lot to us that put on the event to have so many people involved."

Lisa Bondi, graduate assistant, Campus Ministry, Sonnerville, Ind., was impressed with student responses to the tragedy.

"People were wondering what they could do," Bondi. "I looked on Facebook to see what other universities were doing to cope with this tragedy and SHU's immediate response was one of the best."

Campus Ministry created a prayer book and sent it to the Virginia Tech Campus Ministry department on last Friday.

"There were about 50 faculty staff and students that participated in the prayer book," said Bondi. "Also two RA's organized a tree planting ceremony and the prayer book was present there, too."

A special mass was also held to remember those lost.

Although students and faculty wrote things in the prayer book and attended Friday's ceremony, no student visits to the Counseling Center were reported.

"Students have not contacted us with concerns in regards to Virginia Tech, but faculty and staff have contacted the Counseling Center," said Mary Jo Mason, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Director of Counseling, Chappaqua, N.Y.

"I think Sacred Heart is ahead of the curve when it comes to emergencies and tragedies like the one last week at Virginia Tech. Last fall we developed a protocol for identifying distressed students because suicide on college campuses has been such a huge issue."

But what if a student had emotional and mental issues like Cho Seung-Hui, the gunman at Virginia Tech, here at Sacred Heart? How would on-campus organizations, like the Counseling Center, deal with it?

"If I felt the student was distressed and at risk, I would work with him to get in touch with parents with my assistance," said Mason. "But I would be clear [with the student] that I might contact their guardians without their permission.