Virginia Tech Cancels April 16 Classes

Virginia Tech officials have cancelled classes on April 16—the day in 2007 that a student killed 32 people on campus and then himself, the Collegiate Times reports. A steering committee and the school have decided that classes will be canceled this year and next but resume in 2012. April 16, 2011, falls on a Saturday.

"The committee felt [it] was very important to send a message that ultimately . . . teaching and learning is at the very core of what we do," said the university spokesman. "And not being in the classroom is counter to who we are." The provost added that setting a date when classes will resume "makes a statement about what's most important and that the act of violence won't interfere with the university."