Our local and academic communities, along with the nation, are mourning the tragic deaths at Virginia Tech last week. We grieve, we feel helpless. We stand among thousands wanting to do something to honor lives so senselessly cut short. Within this context, I offer the following idea. There may be no better time to compare the atmosphere of last week's Blue-White (maroon/gold) game with the environment in Beaver Stadium last fall. Flash back to boisterous booing toward rivals, which became weekly rituals for some fans at home games.

Despite repeated media pleas for sportsmanship by administrators, alums and our rival guests, such boorish behavior by some was all too commonplace throughout the football season.

Flash back again, this time to the Blue-White game, and recount in your mind's eye the vision of solidarity and unity expressed by masses joined in one human spirit.

Now, consider this: The rivals in Beaver Stadium each season are, after all, members of our fellow academic communities. They are no different than students and faculty at Virginia Tech. They are "Hokies," just known by other names. They share our humanity more than they represent opposition.

What do we learn from recalling such contrasting images of ourself at Beaver Stadium? Perhaps we might conclude that traumatic events in life move us to delve within and resolve that we can do better.

A Virginia Tech alum wrote to the Collegian ("Hokie alum overwhelmed by support at Blue-White," April 25), referring to Penn State's tributes of Virginia Tech at the Blue-White game: "... Penn State, you are a class act."

Fast forward: How will we be characterized come next fall?

Let's all think about that.