[url]http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/05/18/columbine.graduation.ap/index.html[/url]

CNN.com - Last Columbine class in massacre graduates - May 18, 2002

Last Columbine class in massacre graduates

LITTLETON, Colorado (AP) -- Bonded by tragedy, the last class of students
who were at Columbine High during the 1999 bloodbath is graduating, going
out into the world with a heavier burden of sorrow than most teen-agers
will ever know.
About 450 seniors were to get their diplomas Saturday during the
commencement at an amphitheater off campus.
"It's bitter that this is the last class because we shared a bond with
each other. But it's sweet because we made it through together," said
19-year-old Craig Scott, who three years ago huddled under a table in the
library as student gunmen killed his sister and 12 others. "We are living
proof that tragedy will not prevail."
At the graduation ceremony, Sean Graves, who spent most of his high school
years in a wheelchair because of his wounds, will walk across the stage to
receive his diploma.
The Class of 2002 will also remember two classmates who were killed,
Steven Curnow and Daniel Rohrbough, and two students who were killed
during an unsolved shooting at a sandwich shop in 2000.
On April 20, 1999, Scott was studying in the library when students Eric
Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire. Two friends who hid with Scott under
a table died. His sister Rachel was killed outside the school.
"Rachel's legacy has impacted more people's lives than the negative impact
of Eric and Dylan," Scott said. "I've seen so much good happen from
Columbine. As you go through something hard and still try to do what's
right, you come out on the other side with compassion."
Scott took a year off after the attack to heal.
Authorities believe Harris and Klebold were angry because they were
bullied by athletes. Since the attack, Scott and others said some of those
clique lines have been blurred because people are more sympathetic and
more reflective.
"All you have to say is 'that day' and people know what you mean," Scott
said.
Student body president Jennifer Allen, 18, said: "We had to learn the
effect of losing a life and a loved one and going back to the place where
it all happened."
Around the school, a new fire alarm with a different sound than the one
that went off during the attack was installed. Chicken teriyaki, served
that day, is no longer on the cafeteria menu. And balloons are banned in
the building because they sound too much like gunfire when they pop.
About half of the school staff has left, partly because of retirements but
partly because of the shootings, Principal Frank DeAngelis said.
DeAngelis said the seniors watch out for one another because of what they
went through.
He pointed to the aftermath of a food fight in February in which four
students were arrested. Some students who believed administrators had
overreacted stuck up for their schoolmates. Another group sent an
apologetic letter to DeAngelis. He said he was proud of both groups.
"There was no quit in them," the principal said. "I just feel so badly
that they were forced to grow up so quickly."

(c) 2002 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.

THe media is dredging this back up to remind us of how evil guns are.  At least they didn't pepper the story full of anti-gun references.

The news media is prepping us for a possible debate of some contemplated law in some state legislature. They are trying remind those legislators and the sheeple that guns are bad and evil and have no redeeming social value.

yep,it's an election year,alright. time to stir up controversy and fix blame again.the democrats are trying to scare the unknowing masses about the evil of guns.let' try to make them pay come election day.i told my elected officials if they vote for gun control i will vote against them,and i will!

What the news media [b]needs[/b] to remind [i]me[/i] of is, whatever happened to that cop that shot and killed one of the students< not the gunmen, regular students> then lied about it for years before it was finally proven that he did it......

well I'll be damned...
thedave1164,
because of your post I did a search and found the he was indeed cleared of any wrongdoing..
My apolozies to him and all...

But.. you see you must understand, I saw a TV program that said he was the guy... so it [b]must[/b] be true...[:d]

If you're referring to student Daniel Rohrbough, the ballistics report confirmed that he was shot by Eric Harris, and not by Sgt. O'Shea.

Too many people are focusing on the conduct of individual officers that day, and not looking at the ridiculous policies put forth by those in command at the scene.  

If you're looking for a scapegoat in the clusterf**k (no pun intended) that was Columbine, look no further than Sheriff John Stone.  He's the one who put forth the policies that hindered police at the scene.  He's the one who implemented (or perpetuated) the policies handicapped the SWAT teams outside the school that day.

Edit:  I had to walk away from the computer for a few minutes before I hit the reply button.  Glad you understand that O'Shea was exonerated.

ENOUGH of this Columbine bullsh*t already!!!!!!
I am sick of hearing about it.
The media overplay has had the opposite result.
No MORE about this crap, PLEASE!!!!!!