Virginia Tech Victims’ Families Support 30 Minute Notification Limit

By Angela Hatcher
WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor
Published: April 9, 2008

With the anniversary of his daughter Reema’s death just days away, Joe Samaha wants Virginia Tech to start counting minutes.

“We have already learned all too tragically what the term reasonable and timely means.”, says Samaha.

Samaha and Holly Adams Sherman, who also lost her daughter Leslie on April 16, were in Washington D.C. Wednesday supporing New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy.  McCarthy introduced the Virginia Tech Victims Campus Emergency Response Policy and Notification Act.  The proposed legislation would require colleges and universities to alert their campus communities within 30 minutes of an emergency.  McCarthy and the parents believe such a requirement would have saved lives on April 16.

“We know oh so well what the term timely notification meant for our children and loved ones.”, says Samaha.

“A lot of people would still be here.”, says Virginia Tech Senior Bobbie Allen.  Allen lost her friend Ross Alameddine that day.  Allen says she and other students need to know enough to decide whether to go to class if there is a potentially dangerous situation.

“Warn me so I know and you can always just get the facts of it later.”, says Virginia Tech Senior Ashley Shanks.

Ashley misses her friend, Leslie Sherman.  They spent a week together rebuilding houses in New Orleans.

“She was a good motivator to get things done.”

These families are hoping their tremendous loss will motivate Congress to make every minute count.

Congresswoman McCarthy is on the House Higher Education Committee.

She says she’ll try to get the legislation passed as an individual bill or as part of the higher education act, whichever is faster.