Some members of the local Asian community say they are bracing for any possible racist retaliation for Monday's Virginia Tech shootings in which the gunman, a South Korea native, killed 32 people, then himself.

Kei Wong, president of the Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC), said she has heard through e-mail that some in the Asian community are concerned about potential racist retaliation.

"I guess it's just being cautious," Wong said. "There's a lot of emotions up in the air."

Still, Wong said she thought Penn State provided a safe environment.

"I don't have anything to be afraid of," she said.

Many APAC members said they hadn't received any specific threats, although one member, Kieu Bui, said someone told her friend that "I don't want you to go V-Tech on my ass."

Dayi Lee, a member of the Asian-interest service sorority Sigma Omicron Pi, created a Facebook event asking the Asian community to "stay strong and stick together during this difficult time."

"If any event does occur this weekend or anytime in the near future, we must be ready to address the university and any concerns raised by the student body," the description read.

Lee said the aim of the event was not to organize any specific action but just to be prepared for anything that might happen.

"I have a personal experience for people attacking us for things we didn't do," she said. "This isn't the Asian community lashing out at the university -- [Cho Seung-Hui, the gunman] is one individual." [Link]