Virginia Tech Student Government is definitely on to something here.  Would it be asking too much of VTSG to broaden their request by asking the news media to leave the whole planet?   Watch how fast that would get the world back to normal.

The msm are like the overnight guest that just won't leave...like my grandma use to say, "here's your hat, what's your hurry".

I think the media in this country is disgusting. They should have already had the decency to remove themselves from the University, without having to be "asked". How arrogant does someone have to be to keep PROFITING off this tragedy.

This story reminded me of and old SNL skit, a horror movie parody titled "The Thing That Would'nt Leave."  In it, John Belushi plays an obnoxious guest who empties host's fridge, borrows their records, & uses the phone for long distance calls. The hosts shriek evertime the Belushi character asks for anything. Oops showing my age!!

I agree with Blonde, there most likely will be a few bottom of the barrel media types, stalking around for a new angle on the Va. Tech. tragedy.

Bravo to the Va. Tech. student gov.

Well, that's freedom at the liberal University. Besides the segregated mutliculturalism racist / bar whites caveat, and the gun banning, and the free speech speech-codes, and the banning of religion, now we have the freedom of the press stomped upon.

 They've really trashed the whole lib 1st now, and deserve a hearty applause. 

What mixed emotions the students must have, going back there. I don't think I could do it.        .....Debra

I fully expect the "local" media to grant their request. However, there is no doubt that the blood sucking morning shows (GMA, Today, and the other one) will be there; probably trying to talk to the students about why they don't want the reporters around campus..

That's right. It's been seven whole days. Time for everything to get back to normal now. Move along, nothing to see here... Oh, wait--except for the ceremonies, moments of silence, marching bands moving across campus, freaked out students, new university policies to allow students to accept their current grades and go home for the rest of the year, etc. The student government is being disingenuous to say that they want things "back to normal" when in fact they're allowing and encouraging all these ceremonial events they're doing today to help the "healing." They're not trying to have a normal class day today at all, and they shouldn't. It's fine if they want the media to go away--I would, too. Just tell the truth and say it's not because they want things to "go back to normal" (which won't/can't happen). They want the media to go away because the media is annoying and insensitive. They should have just said that the media is a royal pain in the *ss. That would have been truthful--not this "back to normal" business.

If I were a parent of one of the victims, I would actually be offended by the idea of things getting back to "normal" just seven days after the most devastating event of my life. I would feel like everyone is trying to hurry up and forget about my child as quickly as possible. The media is providing extended memorials for their loved ones along with the psychoanalysis of the killer. Shut the media up, and the victims are forgotten that much more quickly.

Unfortunately, the MSM will all be back in the fall when the VaTech football season starts.  The sportscasters will be augmented by the usual pretty faces and newsreaders, at the first nationally televised Tech football game.  There will be revisits to the scenes of the crime accompanied by somber music, the still images of murderer Cho intermixed with tranquil campus scenes, interviews with the wounded-healing students who returned to pursue their goals, tribute to the "irrepressible Hokie spirit", and probably the recital of a piece of poetry to go along with the obligatory poorly-selected rock song to capture the message. 

So, it isn't over.  But at least there'll be a respite. 

As an alumni of VaTech, I think the students did a great job supporting each other and dealing with the zoo-like atmosphere.  Now, it's time to move on.