The Happy: A man in California found $140,000 in unmarked bills a month ago. Sitting in the middle of a street in Long Beach was a Bank of America money bag destined for an ATM. The bag had fallen out of a Brinks truck and was turned into the Long Beach police department shortly after it was found by Eli Estrada. Mr. Estrada is the owner of an up and coming landscaping business, is currently in debt, and is planning his upcoming wedding, yet he returned the money as soon as he found it. For his honesty, Brinks gave him a $2,000 reward.

The Sad: The governor of Virginia has agreed to a $11 million deal for the families of Virginia Tech victims. The deal would allow for the family of each of the deceased to get up to $100,000 with the possibility of more from a $1.75 million hardship fund. A $800,000 pool for injured victims would be set up with a $100,000 cap per person. All additional monies would be set for attorney fees and charities. By accepting this settlement, victims and families agree not to press charges against the government or school for the shootings. The families would also be allowed to give their input on the charges to the school since the shootings. These monies are in addition to money paid (ranging from $11,000 to $208,000) to the victims and families from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

The Hummm: While I believe the Virginia Tech Massacre was a horrible occurrence, I believe shoving money at the pain is not going to heal the wounds. The allotted monies will allow victims and families to pay hospital bills, therapy bills, and burial costs, so for that I am grateful. Realistically though, what can really be done to change what happened at Virginia Tech by giving these families money? Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter, was ordered by the court to seek mental help, but he didn’t. When he began his shooting spree, it was believed to be an isolated event in a single dorm room. When he began shooting on the other side of campus, there was no way to lock down or prevent the shooting. Locking down an entire college campus is a nearly impossible feat, and will not be changed. Many people fall through the cracks of the justice system, but that has yet to change. By getting the victims and families to agree to this proposal, all the state is doing is getting rid of their liability. Paying off these families won’t fix the system. We need to find something that will.