May
01
2007
Publishers’ Weekly reported that Plume inked a deal relating to the V Tech shootings. V Tech journalism professor Roland Lazenby will write and edit a book about the shootings from the student perspective using material the student run website planetblacksburg.com provided to the media during the day of terror.
This bothers me, the idea that someone is profiting from this tragedy. I know a portion of the proceeds will be given to the victim’s fund and a portion to support journalism, but for some reason it just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe because it is so soon after the shootings that the deal seems opportunistic.
I know Roland well and live near Virginia Tech with many close friends in attendance there. The book is an opportunity for the students, both those involved directly and for those involved indirectly to release. I suspect Roland had trouble putting it all together and may even regret doing it in some way, but the book will bring you to tears quickly. Roland takes no joy either in the acts that day or any money that may be made on the book. His students hurt on April 16th and he gave them a way to tell the world about it and their grief. Read the book, then make your judgement. If you don’t want to participate in the purchase of a copy, I will send you mine. Everyoe needs to read about and feel this horrible tragedy. And to help release the community from their grief.