My good friend Ilhan Tuzcu, a professor at the University of Alabama, spoke to local media about Dr. Liviu Librescu, who was Ilhan's advisor. Librescu, a Holocaust survivor, was one of the 32 people who lost their lives as a result of the Virginia Tech slayings at Norris Hall. Ilhan also knew Kevin Granata, 45, a biochemical engineering specialist who was also killed. Tuzcu, who is originally from the city of Mus in eastern Turkey, studied and worked at Virginia Tech for seven years. He moved to Tuscaloosa in 2004.
Ilhan was interviewed by both "The Tuscaloosa News" and a local tv-station. His television interview conducted shortly after a vigil for those who died on the University of Alabama campus, is also available for downloading on the internet.
In his comments, published in "The Tuscaloosa News," Ilhan said that he wasn't surprised to hear that Librescu gave his life helping several students survive.
"It was so typical of him," Ilhan said. "He was such a wonderful and good person--- not just a scientist----but as a person. We were like friends."
Ilhan told reporter Lydia Seabol Avant that he initially thought Librescu would not be among the casualties because he was not a morning person and his office was on the third floor, but that sadly proved not to be the case. Librescu, 76, was originally from Romania.
Ilhan also talked about Granata:
"His death is a great loss for the engineering and science community and the whole nation," Ilhan stated.
The article, published on Wednesday, is available on the web-site for "The Tuscaloosa News." Just type in Tuzcu, Ilhan in the search engine.
His tv interview can be seen at:
For more coverage on the tragedy, if you are not as burned out from it as I am, I highly suggest the local coverage from "The Roanoke Times." As a former reporter myself, I can not speak highly enough of their efforts.
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