Virginia Tech and Penn State both are downplaying the fallout from a few controversial Halloween photos posted online.

The images show students from Penn State apparently dressed as victims of the April 16 shootings. One is of a woman wearing an orange Tech T-shirt showing a bloody bullet hole in the middle of her chest.

"I don't want two young people's unthinking actions to reflect at all on Penn State," said Tech spokesman Larry Hincker. He said the university has not contacted Penn State about the matter.

Similar photos of a man in a gray shirt have circulated the Internet before, but these new photos have reignited the issue and are creating a discussion among college students about free speech.

The Penn State students chose the costumes as a way to shock friends at a party with about six people, one of the students told WSLS (Channel 10) in Roanoke. After the party, friends posted the photos on Facebook. They've been up for about a month. Students in the Tech community started catching wind of the pictures a few days ago and the outcry has since snowballed.

Nearly 9,000 students across the nation, including about 3,000 Tech students, have gone on Facebook to criticize the students in the photos.

People have created at least three groups on the site aimed at the photos and the students who donned the outfits. Some messages posted on the group sites have Tech students and others threatening their counterparts at Penn State. Others want the students to be tossed from school, yet some say the costumed students had a right to dress as they like.

"As much as you may want to punch this girl in the face, she is merely exercising her right to free speech," said Radford University student James Romett. "I know it's greatly offensive and many of you are having some very violent thoughts and emotions right now and I want you to ask yourself this: Do you believe in freedom of speech if you find the content of that speech to be unattractive or offensive?"

Others, including Tech Corps of Cadets member Hal Good, caution against the free speech defense.

"Knowing that you've done something that can shatter this strength, how can you live with yourself? I tell you, nothing is free. Not unless you're willing to pay the consequence of your actions," he wrote on one of the Facebook groups.

Officials at Penn State say they cannot discipline the students, but at least one has met with administrators to discuss the incident.

"We consider the conversation a teachable moment hopefully educating the individual about the callousness it portrays," said Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers.

She said that Penn State did not have a role in the students' "appalling" decision, nor do they reflect all of Penn State.

Students at the Pennsylvania school were quick to wear orange and maroon during a spring football game in support of Tech in April.

One Tech graduate student is looking to reverse the negative tone of the online groups formed in protest.

"We rose above the very person who killed our friends and family, Cho. We showed our incredible power then to will over negativity, and we can do it again," wrote graduate student Ken Stanton in a prepared statement Friday.

Stanton took over administrative duties of the group, "People against this costume."

He advises members of the group to be peaceful and strong regardless of the insulting nature of the photos.

Jeff Tetreault, a 2006 graduate of Western Kentucky University, has been targeted by people who haven't followed Stanton's advice.

Tetreault, who hails from Fairfax, dressed as a victim for a Halloween party in Los Angeles.

Initially he wanted to go as shooter Seung-Hui Cho, but being a victim was "easy and cheap."

His photo also has been posted on Facebook.

"I didn't expect people to think the costume was right," he said. "I think if you find something funny, then laugh. The costume beats going as a pirate or a football player or something.

"If people are getting upset over something, then at least they're talking about it," he said.

Staff writer Greg Esposito contributed to this report.