BLACKSBURG -- After the fatal shootings in Norris Hall, after the Vatican issued a statement, after the Hokie flag flew in Afghanistan and after thousands lit candles to honor 32 lost lives, Jeff Soriano's fatal car crash four days after the April 16 shootings drew comparatively little attention.

Friends said that might have been fitting for the Chesapeake native and Virginia Tech freshman, who shunned the spotlight and was shy around strangers. It's also the way Virginia Tech typically prefers to handle student deaths -- quietly and privately.

In the shootings, 28 students died, including the shooter, along with five faculty members.

Five other Tech students also died last school year. Three died in car accidents and one from disease. For one student, Tech administrators don't know the cause of death.

If it weren't for the shootings, the five student deaths would have been the lowest number at Tech in six years.

Inevitably, at a school the size of Tech, students die each year. Between 1988 and 2006, an average of 11 students died per year. The university does not typically release the names of students who have died.

But behind the scenes, Tech is accustomed to reaching out to family and friends of students who die.

It's a task that largely falls to Tom Brown, dean of students.

On a normal day, Brown spends his time in meetings, organizing student orientation or chatting with parents.

But when a student dies, his other responsibilities are put on hold.

"In the event of a student death, it becomes our priority until we can get things addressed," he said.

His office specializes in handling student crises.

Brown, who has 15 years' experience with the grim task, helped write Tech's protocol for handling student deaths, which includes someone from his 10-person staff being on call at all times. The protocol has not changed since the April 16 shootings.

Brown calls the family to offer condolences. Families are usually appreciative, he said.

Brown also sends a letter to the student's college and to other key departments so the student's name is removed from class rolls.

He offers to assist the family. Some families accept. Others prefer to handle things themselves.

"We just allow families all the leeway they need," he said.

At the family's request, Brown often organizes a memorial service on campus or helps the family clean the student's dorm room.

The university also refunds all tuition and fees.

Two or three Tech administrators attend the funeral, and several are assigned to help counsel any students affected by the death.

Before the April 16 shootings, Brown handled two other situations with multiple student deaths.

On Halloween weekend of 1997, two students died in a car crash and another fell to her death. In early 2004, two students died in car crashes on the same weekend.

The April 16 shootings marked the first time Brown couldn't speak personally with every family.

When the responsibility becomes too much for one person, other staff at the Dean of Students Office help Brown address the needs of the families.

That was the case with Jeff Soriano.

Coming so close on the heels of April 16, Brown couldn't attend his funeral. Two of his staff did instead.

But otherwise, Brown said, his office didn't break from protocol.

Brown will continue establishing connections with the families of students who have died, just as he always has.

"It is still very important work and our commitment to assist families and student friends of deceased students will remain intact," he said.