To Virginia Tech Student Affairs,
I am writing as a usually proud Hokie who is feeling very disappointed after the events that took place on Saturday, October 9th, two hours before kickoff at Lane Stadium. Due to the large crowds entering Lane Stadium, students cannot see the fences until they are several feet away and being pushed into them. I watched as my fellow Hokies were trampled, squished, and suffocated when being herded through these fences. We are being treated like cattle, not people.
I was separated from my friend in a stampede and pinned against the metal framing of a fence. She too was being pinned against a fence. I yelled for help from the police officers to create an opening and let us through, but was ignored. My friend would have yelled too had she not have been so squished that she lost consciousness and blacked out.
My friend and I were able to get into Lane stadium on our feet (she needed some assistance) but others may have not had the same luck. This system could result in serious injury and needs to be changed. This change should allow for students to be able to enter from more than one gate. It should also call for less fencing. Furthermore, we ask that the police department ask people to leave center street over a period of time, not all at once (for this can cause a stampede).
Two years ago, as a freshman at Virginia Tech, there were no fences and students could enter from several different gates. During that football season, my peers and I never once had a problem getting into Lane Stadium safely and efficiently.
We hope that you can take the weight of this issue seriously.
Sincerely,
A concerned Virginia Tech Student Body
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