By Aliy Lane

The Virgina Tech tragedy that has unfolded over the past weeks forces us to question many things in life: our faith, the definition of a mental illness, a university's emergency procedures and our personal safety. Whatever it is, all of us have been affected. Many families have lost loved ones and are still searching for answers. As we reflect and pray for the victims and their families let us not leave anyone out of our prayers. The young man responsible for the lives of 32 innocent people clearly suffered from mental illness. Mental illness is real. Many college students across the country suffer from various forms of mental illnesses, including those on our own Marquette campus.

It often takes a tragedy for us to put things into perspective in our own lives. It causes us to finally count our blessings. Obviously this one individual at Virginia Tech was not as blessed as some of us are. Attending Marquette and any other university in this nation is a blessing. The same goes for being mentally healthy and having love and support from our families and friends. We have seen colleges, cities, churches and an entire nation bond together in the name of Virgina Tech. Let this be a reminder of all that we have to be thankful for in our own lives.

Multiple media organizations have not been as sensitive to the tragedy as they should have. Did families and friends of the victims need to see photos plastered on the television screen of loved ones being carried out of buildings by their arms and legs? Is it really necessary to show the video of a shooter to a shocked and scared nation just days after the incident? Thirty-two people lost their lives – we get it. Many could have done without the disturbing video to say the least. Yes, the media have a responsibility to inform the public but they also have a responsibility to protect the dignity of other human beings. I applaud the news organizations that have pulled the video and other distressing images, but that does not erase the effects.

If Marquette has taught me one thing over the past four years it is to try to make ethical decisions in our everyday lives. Let us not forget, especially those of us about to graduate and mold our nation, that we all have an ethical responsibility to be sensitive to our audiences, whether it be the mentally ill, the innocent or those who have lost their lives. Let us not forget "cura personalis."

Lane is a senior in the College of Communication.