Turn The Web Orange And Maroon On Friday 04/20/2007 To Show Support For The Virginia Tech Victims
I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1992. I have never been more proud to be a part of the “Hokie Nation” as I have been since this horrible tragedy. Chants at the Convocation and Drill Field Vigil of “Let’s Go Hokies!” brought the tears to my eyes that I had been fighting since that fateful morning.
On Friday 04/20/2007, the “Hokie Nation” will celebrate a National “Orange And Maroon Effect Day” to honor the victims of the horrible events that took place in Blacksburg this week. The world that is now learning alot about Virginia Tech saw the “Orange And Maroon Effect” in action at the Convocation when every student had on their orange and maroon t-shirts or hoodies.
The Challenge
I am asking and challenging every webmaster, template designer, blogger or other web power broker out there to join in the “Orange And Maroon Effect” this Friday, whether you are a Hokie or not. For one day, show your support for the victims of this tragedy by changing your website colors to incorporate some version of the “Orange And Maroon Effect”.
A similar challenge went out before during “Pink October“. Brilliant displays of CSS popped up everywhere to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Several themes were developed and the project was a great success.
Developers may not have time to pump out any themes for download before Friday, so some simple CSS color switches might work best. Backgrounds, header colors, link colors whatever you can do to show support for the victims.
If you decide to go Hokie for the day add something to your site to let your visitors know why and what you are doing.
The Colors
To help you out, here are the official hex codes for Virginia Tech’s colors
Other hex codes for official accents can be found here.
Quick Ideas And Code
- Download “Orange And Maroon Web Effect”, upload and install for the day or however long you like. Preview “Orange And Maroon Web Effect”.
- Download “Virginia Tech” (Zip, Tar.gz) By Megan McDermott. Preview Megan’s theme.
Here is a quick alert style banner done with CSS styled in the official Virginia Tech colors, place the code anywhere in your template or post to show a CSS banner for support:
Orange And Maroon
To Show Support For The Virginia Tech Victims
Go HOKIES!
Here is the code:
<div style="text-align:center;color:#fff;background:#600;margin-bottom:10px;border-top:2px solid #ff6600;border-bottom:2px solid #ff6600;padding:5px 20px 5px 45px;">Turning The Web<br /> Orange And Maroon<br /> To Show Support For The Virginia Tech Victims<br />Go HOKIES!</div>
Courtesy of Conner Gilbert - Banner for the corner of your webpage looks like:
<div style="position: absolute;right:0px;top:0px;width:200px;"><a href="http://www.vt.edu/" target=_blank><img border="0" src="http://www.crasc-online.org/images/vtbanner.png" alt="VT 4/16/07" width="200" height="133"></a></div>
468 x 60
728 x 90
300 x 250
160 x 600
Ribbons
Feel free to link any banner back to this page so people will know what’s going on. Please notify us if you participate so we can catalog screenshots and links.
If you go Hokie, tell everyone about it by leaving a comment on this post. We will make every effort to catalog the web version of the “Orange And Maroon Effect” at a later date in some permanent, appropriate way.
I’ve never asked for Diggs before, but this is a good cause and that’s probably the quickest way to get the word out. Although Matt acknowledged us here before, I don’t know his email. If anyone does know it, he sure as hell could get the word out better than anybody else.
Thanks in advance. GO HOKIES!
Tags: hokies, virginia tech, wordpress
simon360 wrote,
I’ll do that, it really was a horrible thing that happened. My sympathies to the students and teachers of Virginia Tech.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Chet wrote,
I’ve been in Blacksburg for nearly two decades and worked at Va Tech for almost that long. It is tragic, surreal, and sick here, but I must say that for every bit of negative energy that came out of that one person, the entire campus and community has countered it with grace and humility a million times over. The media is overwhelming us, which is both good and bad. Half the population has been interviewed by some news outlet, and I have not seen one single interview where our students and staff has not acted with dignity, respect, and honesty.
I think that painting the web orange and maroon would be yet another way that people around the world can support us.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Ubuntu Switch » UbuntuSwitch.com Joins The “Orange And Maroon Web Effect” wrote,
[…] […]
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Davis Mayanja wrote,
I’m definately on board… horrible what happened to the Hokies. The picture of the shootings is very vivid in my mind because I spend most of my day on campus (Indiana University, Indianapolis) as I work there in addition to being a full-time student. So I’ll be a Hokie this Friday, at least through my personal website. God Bless!
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Noonan wrote,
Great idea, Our prayers are with them.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
VT Remembered wrote,
I currently have a memorial page for VT on MySpace (you’re more than welcome to join!). If anyone makes a simple maroon layout with orange accents I’d love to post it as my layout. Definite credit would be given in a bulletin, blog as well as on the main profile page. It is awesome what you are doing and I admire you. Thank you. The physical attack was here but it was felt emotionally EVERYWHERE.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Phil wrote,
I’m wondering how we can bring this to the attention of Google, and various other larger sites on the web. Many of these companies hire a large number of Hokies, and if google created a specialized logo for the event this Friday, I feel that would help show the solidarity. I’ve sent them an e-mail through their business development section, with a suggestion, but I have no idea how fast that would make it from their email to the people that can make it happen.
VT Alumni ‘05
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
James Belk wrote,
I was just curious as to why you picked April 20 and not april 16th. Im all for the idea no matter what day you decide but it seems you might have to compete for the attention when a lot of people are drawn to another national holiday; 4-20. Seeing how the tragedy was on the 16th and you picked April 20th, I could not help but to think it was done specifically for that reason. I don’t think the day for the memorial should have to be shared with other interest. And, sadly to say, with time it might make your cause fade into the background. With that being said, I will change all my sites and pages this Friday.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Tommy wrote,
Quite a few people are wondering why we’ve picked 04/20/2007. We chose the date to coincide with both a state-wide day of mourning here in Virginia and a date chosen by the VT Alumni Association and declared as “National Orange And Maroon Effect Day”.
We realize it is not much time to prepare your site. We obviously are not going to wait until next year to begin the campaign, although I am sure we will make another call for action next year on the anniversary of the tragedy.
Thanks for your effort.
Quote | Link | April 18th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Chris wrote,
I turned my MySpace to Orange and Maroon at http://www.myspace.com/demonhale .
Instructions on how to use the theme to show support as well as buttons and links to this page are on that MySpace Page…
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 12:28 am
Megan wrote,
I got the go-ahead from my boss to do this on our site! Yay! I run a website for the housing department at a major Canadian University so it’s particularly appropriate for us to do this. Our director will also be posting a message in support of VT.
If I have time tonight I’m going to try to throw together a wordpress theme too. I’ll post here if I manage to finish it!
I am sorry that you haven’t been able to get more publicity for this. I did what I could to spread the word, including bookmarking to the Ma.gnolia web design group and posted on my blog.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 5:52 am
Tommy wrote,
@ Megan - Great news! Keep us posted on the theme. Be sure to share the link with us, we are working on a gallery of screenshots for later.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 5:58 am
CW2 BRIAN SMITH wrote,
The word is out in TX, and spreading throughout Fort Hood! I’ve already changed my myspace page and have encouraged all of my fellow warriors to do the same. Also on Friday, I will be wearing an ORANGE or MAROON EFFECT shirt underneath my flightsuit while flying, in rememberance of the horrific tragedy and the victims. My thoughts and prayers go out to EVERY HOKIE around………
GO HOKIES!
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Del wrote,
I am on board, i was pretty shocked with what happened.
I hope nothing like this happens again ..
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Matt Young wrote,
I am a Hokie graduate from 1989. I cannot tell you how deeply this has affected me. To live in Blacksburg is to know the love of a small town, in a friendly campus environment. It’s one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been.
Virginia Tech will endure. The community, the state, and the country has embraced them.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this most heinous crime.
I am honored to join other webmasters in our tribute to the Hokie Spirit!
Go Hokies!
Matt Young
Chief Technical Officer
Carteret Mortgage Corporation
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
girl wonder wrote,
http://www.myspace.com/reppintharice
its ready for tomorrow.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Joe wrote,
Just to let you know, we will be sporting a banner in support of VT on Friday and have dedicated a thread in our main forum. (HornetsReport.com)
All our prayers and wishes go out to the vicitms of this tragedy, their family, friends and the VT community.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Tony wrote,
We’ve got the colors up now and will keep them up through Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the survivors and their families.
Regards,
Tony Simmons
Online Editor
The News Herald
Panama City, FL
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Megan wrote,
Well, here it is! My Orange and Maroon Effect wordpress theme. You can see it in action on my blog. Here are the files:
Zip File
Tar.gz file
I hope everything works. This is my first ever wordpress theme so I’m not sure how it will work on other installations with different setups. I also hope that whoever took that photo doesn’t mind that I used it in the theme. I tried to find a credit for it on the VT site but there wasn’t one. I did put a note and linkback in the footer so hopefully it won’t be a problem.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Tommy wrote,
@Megan - Fantastic theme, we will probably move your links further up in the page to promote your outstanding job.
Thanks again.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Connor Gilbert wrote,
Here’s a banner you can put in the right hand corner of your site. (example at crasc-online.org)
Code available at CRASC-Online.org.
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
MeganMcDermott.com » Blog Archive » Virginia Tech Memorial Wordpress Theme wrote,
[…] wordpress theme I developed for tomorrow’s “Orange and Maroon Effect” webmaster challenge is now available for download. Here is a […]
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
802ClaytorSquare wrote,
Fountain,
great idea. Unfortunately I don’t have a website, and I’m still undecided as to whether I’ll wear my Tech sweatshirt at work tomorrow or not, too many unpleasant emotions running.
Peace.
Jim
VT 88,92,95
Quote | Link | April 19th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Jason Elliot Benda wrote,
I didn’t have time to make an orange/maroon scheme for my personal web page, but I did change the colors this morning on my LiveJournal. I’m glad to see from the codes listed here that I got the colors right.
I teach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and our Chancellor sent out a message yesterday encouranging all members of our campus community to wear orange and maroon today. Orange is a common color around here; maroon not so much, but I did manage to find maroon pants, even though it meant doing laundry before 6:00 am today.
Quote | Link | April 20th, 2007 at 5:11 am
Bess wrote,
Thank you for all your support for the Hokie Nation. My brother and I both are alumni, and my Dad is a constant fan. Hope, Prayers, and Love to Blacksburg and beyond!
Go Hokies!
Bess
Quote | Link | April 20th, 2007 at 8:22 am
M Rimar wrote,
As a tribute to VT on this National Orange and Maroon Day, the normally white and blue header on the Saint Louis University Web site is dressed in the VA Tech colors of orange and maroon. The colors may clash, but that is okay. This is about something far more important than that.
Quote | Link | April 20th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Orange and Maroon Effect | WPDesigner WordPress Themes wrote,
[…] is taking part in the “Orange and Maroon Effect” on April 20, 2007, to answer BuzzDroid.com’s […]
Quote | Link | April 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
blogan wrote,
Orange and Maroon…
Blogan.net has gone “Orange and Maroon” for a time to show support for the victims at Virginia Tech.
Popularity: unranked……
Quote | Link | April 20th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Darren Dittrich wrote,
Thanks so much for this site! We all appreciate the work you’ve done.
Well, we couldn’t easily change EVERYTHING on our multi-server site, but we updated the TOP RIGHT corner with Maroon and Orange.
As a graduate of VaTech, I wanted to do something positive in response to the recent tragedy. My online advertising company (sell.com) will donate ALL PROCEEDs for the rest of April to the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. Go Hokies!
Quote | Link | April 21st, 2007 at 10:39 am
Joining the bandwagon | The Captivation wrote,
[…] The Captivation is powered by WordPress and the Orange And Maroon Effect Theme by […]
Quote | Link | April 23rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Jared Sagal wrote,
Hello …not sure if this will get to the right place but I wrote a song and made a video for families and friends of the victims and would like to get it to them somehow. I have it up on my myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/jaredsagal. It has recieved an amazing response thus far but I want to make sure those that really need to hear and see it can. I sincerely hope you can help.
Best,
Jared
Quote | Link | May 28th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Courtney wrote,
I felt really bad for everyone at V. Tech. I can’t believe something as terrible as that could happen in the US. I recently put a remembrance ribbon on my myspace page. It looks awesome. At my school we had Hokie Day. I am not personally a Hokie fan but I felt horrible for the victims and their families so I wore Maroon and Orange to show my support. We had a prayer service at the flagpole at the beginning of the day to remember those at VT. everyone was crying! I hope that one day we can prevent stuff like that from ever happening again. It is a terrible tragedy that someone that sick could do something as horrible as he did. I would never dream of hurting anyone! I can’t believe that anyone could want to hurt anyone. I offer my condolences to everyone I also offer my support. Keep VT in your hearts and keep praying.
Quote | Link | June 16th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Turn Your Site Orange & Maroon this Friday to Support Virginia Tech - MeganMcDermott.com wrote,
[…] just heard about a web challenge that is going on this Friday to show support for Virginia Tech: For one day, show your support for […]
Quote | Link | July 19th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Go Hokies! The Fishetarian Joins The Orange And Maroon Web Effect | The Fishetarian wrote,
[…] As a sign of respect to the victims of the horrible tragedy that took place this week at Virginia Tech, we are changing the colors of our site as part of the Orange And Maroon Web Effect. […]
Quote | Link | December 13th, 2007 at 1:04 pm