MEADOR: Heroes arise out of tragic events at Virginia Tech
By: Jake Meador / Freshman English major Posted: 4/25/07 The heroes of the Protestant Reformation had an old saying that man is simultaneously both saint and sinner, and the truth of this statement is impossible to argue. In the 20th century alone there lived people as awful as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin and as wonderful as Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. The irony of the saying is that it's often when the sinners are at their worst that we get the clearest picture of the saints. The lives of great men and women become most beautiful when confronted with great tragedy. Mother Teresa would be an unknown if it weren't for the horrors of poverty, the oppressive caste system and the ruins of India left behind by British imperialism. Likewise, King would be long forgotten if it weren't for the horrors of racism and segregation. We saw one more example of this truth last week in the tragedy at Virginia Tech. By now everyone has heard the name Cho Seung-Hui, and we should call him by his name, not by some title we make up to avoid the harsh reality that a human being committed this crime. We've heard of how the 23-year-old senior English major killed 32 individuals and then himself in the worst school shooting in U.S. history. Some have even seen the disturbing video he made prior to the massacre. We've heard about his dark, sad life that ended so violently. But few have told the story of another man involved in the tragedy. 76-year-old engineering professor Liviu Librescu was one of the 32 to be killed by Seung-Hui. But if it weren't for a courageous act of sacrifice on Librescu's part, there may have been more casualties. Librescu was teaching a class in Norris Hall when gunshots were first heard in a distant corner of the building. Students in the classroom initially hid, but as the sound came closer and closer, Librescu instructed students to flee through the window. He then, in the ultimate act of sacrifice, braced the door with his own body, being shot through the door several times as his students escaped. When police entered the room, they found the professor dead by the door with five bullet wounds. Additionally, 32-year-old Egyptian doctorate student Waleed Muhammad Shaalan, who had been shot once already, distracted Seung-Hui long enough to allow several other students to escape. Seung-Hui reminds us of all that is broken in our world: the fractured relationships, the alienation so many of us feel, the violence we often witness and the self-centeredness that so often characterizes us. Librescu and Shaalan, on the other hand, are a heroic reminder of all that is good in life and all that is a cause for hope. And Librescu didn't just become that with his act of sacrifice. His whole life was characterized by bravery, generosity and love. Born in 1930 in Romania, he lived through the Holocaust as an adolescent. Despite such difficulties, he excelled in school, studying aerospace engineering and becoming one of the finest engineering students in Romania. He earned his doctorate degree in the late 1950s and then taught various engineering courses for 20 years before losing his job in the 1970s due to his opposition to the ruling Communist party. Thanks to the intercession of the Israeli government, he was allowed to leave the country, and he moved to Tel Aviv, Israel, to teach at the university there for several years. After Tel Aviv, he moved to the United States to teach at Virginia Tech, which he had done since 1986. Throughout his career at Virginia Tech, he was known for being one of the finest researchers in the world, as well as a great man. As one colleague put it, "He was a very pleasant, jolly fellow who enjoyed joking around a little with the staff. An everyone's-friend sort of guy." One student said he treated all of his students like his own children. So it isn't surprising that last week when the lives of his students were threatened, Librescu did what a father would do in such a situation. He sacrificed his own safety to protect the lives of his students, and for that Librescu is a hero. And it's important we remember that during these dark days following such a tragic event. There's no shortage of darkness in our world, and consequently there's no shortage of negativity and cynicism. But Librescu's example reminds us that ultimately love triumphs over all these things. There is something about human beings that cannot be kept down by hatred, violence or oppression, and Librescu's life is the perfect portrait of that something: narrowly escaping a young death at the hands of Hitler, resisting an oppressive Communist regime in his home country and ultimately giving up his own life in order to save others. So as we reflect on the tragedy at Virginia Tech and have conversations about how to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again (and we need to have those conversations: We need to talk about gun control and loving the hard-to-love and additional safety measures to protect students), we also must remember Librescu's heroic sacrifice. It is because of his selfless act that today 20-30 students are still alive and 20-30 families aren't burying their sons or daughters. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 25, 2007
Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
Church continues to carry on without pastor
By: Ryan Norman Posted: 4/25/07 Events such as the Virginia Tech shooting can be hard on some students. Besides psychological services, students seeking counseling can also find help at campus ministries. Cornerstone Church at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, however, is having more trouble providing this service. The former campus pastor of the church, Melissa Finlaw Draper, became the pastor at Northeast United Church of Christ earlier this semester. This left Cornerstone without an on-site pastor, said Lew Kaye-Skinner, an English lecturer as well as faculty adviser and chair of the ministry board for Cornerstone-United Ministries in Higher Education. "The current absence of a pastor on staff has meant that we have not been able to respond as quickly as might otherwise happen to issues such as the Virginia Tech massacre," Kaye-Skinner wrote in an e-mail interview. Kaye-Skinner said the mission of Cornerstone is to bring the message of God to campus and respond to the needs of students. Because Cornerstone currently doesn't have a pastor, volunteers have been providing these services. "Volunteers have had to fill in," Kaye-Skinner wrote. "For instance, we have had to supply pastors for the Sunday evening worship services at Cornerstone since the first of February." Worship services haven't been the problem, said Jessica Lauer, a senior philosophy and religious studies major and intern at Cornerstone Church. It's the services not on Sundays, such as prayer groups and bible studies, that have suffered. "These events are always a time of great fellowship and fun for students, and we haven't been able to do much of that," Lauer said. Kaye-Skinner said the search for a pastor is progressing but isn't moving quite as quickly as he would like. "It has been very difficult finding qualified applicants for the position," Kaye-Skinner wrote. Cornerstone has been struggling with low attendance this year, and it hasn't been easy to improve campus involvement without a pastor, Lauer said. Despite the setbacks, Lauer said she is confident the church will rebound in the upcoming years. "I am sad that I am graduating and will miss the opportunity to meet the new chaplain and see the wonderful things that are in store for Cornerstone," Lauer said. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 25, 2007
Korean's at UNL don't foresee backlash after Virginia Tech shootings
By: Adam Templeton Posted: 4/26/07 The recent shootings at Virginia Tech have caused many to worry about a backlash against South Korean students. However, Korean students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say acts of discrimination have not occurred. And they hope it stays that way. "It hasn't been a problem," said Min Suk Shin, a business management graduate student and a member of the Korean Student Association. "Maybe in larger cities with larger Korean communities, but not here." Other students feel the actions of Cho Seung-Hui, a student from South Korea who committed the shootings, should not represent the South Korean community or the country itself. They also agree that Seung-Hui was unstable and burdened with psychological issues. "The first time I heard the news, it was surreal, that he was a South Korean-born student," said Sung Tae Kim, who is also a management graduate student and KSA member. "I felt some sort of connection," he said. "But, nothing's really connected; he had a personal problem." Shin said he felt a connection to the Virginia Tech tragedy "as a human being, a college student and as a Korean" but said Seung-Hui is not and should not become a symbol for the Korean community. Although there has been no reaction against South Korean students at the university, some were worried that the announcement of Seung-Hui's ethnicity could lead to violence. Shin said he became worried when he heard that Seung-Hui was born in South Korea because he felt it could lead to violence."I hope that doesn't happen," he said. Still, students remain confident that acceptance will prevail over ignorance. "I'm sure many people in Lincoln don't connect him (Seung-Hui) to the whole of the Korean people," Kim said. "I don't feel some serious problem will happen in the community or to any individuals." Some students were concerned some people would not differentiate between North and South Koreans, associating all Koreans with President George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil." However, that sort of thinking does not appear widespread, they said. "That sort of ignorance may be there at the junior high or high school level, but it rarely happens in college," Shin said. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 26, 2007
MEADOR: Virginia Tech shootings show need for humanity
By: Jake Meador / Freshman English major Posted: 4/30/07 When I first sat down to write my column after the massacre at Virginia Tech on April 16, my thoughts were two-fold: First, to write a column advocating stricter gun control. Second, to write a column praising the selfless heroism of Leviu Lebrescu and Waleed Muhammad Shaalan. I did the latter, but I've since decided not to do the former. Gun control is such a divisive issue; the last thing we need right now is further division between people. Today is a day for reconciliation, not debate. Besides, if 33 dead bodies, including the gunman's, won't change your mind (one way or the other), then 850 words probably won't either. But as I browsed the Internet reading stories of the awful event, sometimes wondering what sick curiosity drives us to such exploration, I stumbled across a link with pictures and a brief bio for each victim. Many of the pictures were highly pixilated - a sad reminder that they were never intended for such use. And at that moment I realized I, and many others, have forgotten to talk about the most important lesson to come from Virginia Tech. And it has nothing to do with gun control or stricter campus security policies. Among those killed were husbands and fiancés, wives and mothers, fathers and sons, daughters and sisters, Muslims, Jews, Christians and Hindus. One was a resident assistant who was in the marching band. Another was trying to find a cure for cerebral palsy. Still another had started a sorority for female engineering students. Another was in the dance ensemble. I'm listing all these things for two reasons. Each individual was unique and had diverse interests and a never-before-seen personality. And when these individuals died, it wasn't just another tally on Cho Seung-Hui's killing spree; it wasn't a nameless number. It was the loss of a unique human being that God created and knew intimately. We've heard the number over and over, "32 dead," but we haven't heard about them as individuals, and if we keep repeating the number, it's easy for us to forget that there are 32 families in mourning, as well as countless friends and others who were touched by these individuals. There is another reason I listed all those individual traits. Despite their differences in interests, age, ethnicity, political beliefs, gender and religion, they shared a common humanity (something also shared between the victims and Seung-Hui, incidentally.). Sadly, in the wake of this tragedy, many of us have spent more time discussing those differences than the commonality. We've spent lots of time debating gun control, religion, university security policies, etc. And, of course, we need to talk about all of those issues. You might be like me and think stricter gun control is needed; you might be like many of my friends and think this event is the greatest argument possible for carrying concealed weapons. You might be like me and think the only final solution to this event is through some sort of metaphysical belief that transcends debate about public policy. I spoke with a Buddhist monk on the day of the shooting, and he was convinced the problem is one of ignorance. I'm convinced it's the problem of a sinful human heart, and all the knowledge in the world can't change that - only Jesus can. You might be like me and think tighter security measures might be a good idea, but you have no idea how they'd be implemented. Or perhaps you think they're important enough that significant sacrifices in student freedoms are necessary to ensure our safety. I say all of that because these conversations are important. Having strong opinions is not a bad thing, but you have to know how to express them. So often as we have these conversations we lose sight of the fact that, ultimately, we're all human, and even if someone disagrees with you, he or she is not your enemy. If you're a Democrat, Republicans are not the enemy; if you're Christian, atheists are not the enemy. Because of the intensity of the events at Virginia Tech and the topics being discussed, it's easy to develop the idea that people with differing ideas are hindrances to progress - if they'd just believe like me, maybe we'd get somewhere. But it's never that simple, and even if it were, arrogance gets us nowhere. So listen, learn, respect - and love every moment of it. To quote the late Kurt Vonnegut, "Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind." I've got about 100 words left this year, but rather than waste them on further elaboration, I thought it'd be appropriate to print the names of the 32 victims. As you read, remember each of these people had friends, family, hopes and dreams, just like you. And right now those dreams have gone to the grave with them, and their friends and families are still mourning two weeks later. Even if some of us have already forgotten: Ryan Clark, 22. Emily Jane Hilscher, 19. Christopher James Bishop, 35. Daniel Perez Cueva, 21. G.V. Loganathan, 51. Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20. Mary Karen Read, 19. Caitlin Hammaren, 19. Kevin Granata, 46. Liviu Librescu, 76. Brian Bluhm, 25. Austin Cloyd, 18. Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, 49. Matthew Gregory Gwaltney, 24. Jeremy Herbstritt, 27. Rachel Elizabeth Hill, 18. Jarrett Lane, 22. Matt La Porte, 20. Henry Lee (Henh Ly), 20. Partahi Lumbantoruan, 34. Lauren McCain, 20. Daniel O'Neil, 22. Juan Ortiz, 26. Minal Panchal, 26. Erin Peterson, 18. Michael Pohle, 23. Julia Pryde, 23. Reema Samaha, 18. Waleed Mohammed Shaalan, 32. Leslie Sherman, 20. Maxine Turner, 22. Nicole White, 20. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 30, 2007
University Police sees improvement in handling crime on campus
By: Andy Boyle Posted: 4/30/07 Bomb threats, drunken drivers, pot smokers and thieves. Those are just of the few problems university police dealt with during the past year. Capt. Carl Oestmann of University Police said he thinks major criminal offenses decreased over the past year, and the minor ones have either decreased or stayed relatively the same. "I think (the decrease) shows that an improvement in the constant awareness that our department has - staying alert for any criminal activity and patrolling the way we do in certain areas on campus," Oestmann said. He said the Virginia Tech shootings have caused an increase in calls from people concerned about cases of depression in students. "It might not be criminal," he said of students' depression, "but the safety of our students and faculty and staff is important, and that's part of ensuring that people are OK here." Oestmann said he doesn't mind receiving those calls because "we want people to feel comfortable if they have concern for another student." The Interfraternity Council also amended its bylaws and will require all greek housing to have installed a fire monitoring system by Aug. 27, 2007. The monitoring system will hardwire all of the smoke detectors into a central unit, so if a smoke alarm goes off, a signal will be sent to the Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department immediately. During this summer, University Police will be beta testing laptops for their cruisers, said Officer Gary Etherton of University Police in early April. With these new systems, officers won't have to radio everything in to dispatch, which could help save time, he said. Other than that, Oestmann said, University Police will continue to investigate cases it already has on file and get ready for next semester. Oestmann said the officers have been working to communicate with different university departments about problems they've had, and they're still addressing concerns the campus community might have. -- Original Source: Daily Nebraskan - April 30, 2007
CARLSON: Camaraderie, willingness to help as necessary in everyday life as in times of tragedy
By: Jay Carlson / Junior electrical engineering and mathematics major Posted: 8/6/07 While watching the evening news this week, we heard brilliant accounts of heroism in response to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse into the Mississippi River. Many of these stories are reminiscent of the ones we heard years ago during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It seems the citizens of this country can band together to accomplish so many things in times of national crisis and tragedy. Yet, most of America's tragedies play to a deaf ear. People have no qualms with stepping in the way of danger when catastrophe strikes, but no one seems to be around to help save people from the smaller tragedies. Sametta Heyward's babysitter had just canceled when Heyward was called in to start a double-shift at a county-run group home in South Carolina. Her two children, age 1 and 4, were left locked in her car for eight hours in the sweltering heat of that summer day. After finding her unconscious, barely alive children in her car, Heyward tried her hardest to revive them by biting and kicking them. Eventually she conceded to defeat. She quietly bathed and dressed them, then cached their bodies under the kitchen sink in garbage bags. We as a nation need to band together to stop disasters - both big and small. It's obvious the deaths of these two small children were easily preventable. At the bridge disaster, Gary Babineau was a lifeline to at least a dozen people he helped save. This woman had no lifeline - for a number of reasons. Experts expect psychological testing of Heyward to show she was mentally unstable at the time. Mental instability? This sounds gravely familiar to the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech, where the mentally unstable Seung-Hi Cho killed 32 people and wounded 25 before ending his own life. Of course, Heyward wasn't just mentally unstable - she was desperate, and without a babysitter, she had no choice. As a near-socialist, I'm an advocate for universality of health care, which would include mental counseling. Nevertheless, as citizens, we need to act in our communities and undertake the challenge of weaving a tighter bond among ourselves. A paramount study last year from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago compared figures from 1985 to modern-day findings, and concluded that Americans have fewer close friends and, even more important, fewer connections with other community members. Camaraderie doesn't present itself in the wake of disaster anymore than it does in our every day lives, so long as we allow it to. Where was Heyward's neighbor down the street or her friend across the block? Who was around to detect the early signs of mental illness? Obviously, even the best denizen can't do it all - and that's where we need government help. This woman shouldn't have had to work eight hour shifts, because we ought to have a living wage set. We should have free daycare of which low-income, single moms can take advantage. We should have free health care - including psychiatric therapy - that would help people cope with problems they're experiencing. But in the end, no amount of government programs can do the same for someone as a Johnny-on-the-spot do-gooder. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - August 6, 2007
University Police beef up training, introduce new technology
By: Ryan Norman Posted: 8/23/07 With the looming arrival of the fall semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University Police are preparing for the increased number of on-campus students. University Police are hoping to stay ahead of crime by supplementing training and implementing new technology, said Jim Davis, the education and personnel officer of the University Police. "We have been preparing this summer by training for drug and alcohol-related situations," Davis said. "We have also taken time to study more on action and reaction to hostage situations, in reaction to Virginia Tech." Davis said, along with increased training, the University Police have hired a new officer, Michael Eckel, to increase student safety. The University Police are also planning on using two new online tools to help students. By second semester, the University Police hope to have a system in place where students can register valuable items online in case of campus theft. "We are trying to go out this year and entice everyone to register bicycles and electronics with us." Davis said. "Anything valuable students want to register, we want to be able to put in a system that we can pull up if that item disappears." Capt. Carl Oestmann of University Police said the department implemented another online tool this summer called UNLAlert. UNLAlert is a program which can be downloaded to any computer and will be used to alert university students, parents and staff members in case of a campus emergency. The program can be downloaded at http://emergency.unl.edu/unlalert.shtml. "If you download the program, and have your computer on during a campus emergency, we can send out an emergency message that will automatically come up on your screen," Oestmann said. "It is another tool we can use to alert the campus community in case of an emergency." Even with the new safety measures, the beginning of the fall semester inevitably causes an increase in several problems, including traffic and theft, Oestmann said. Oestmann said drivers should "heed to the speed limits." University Police will be monitoring drivers' speeds, especially during the first few days of the school year. "The beginning of the year always signals a high volume of traffic, and I don't like to pick on the freshman, but they need to be especially careful because it's new for them," Davis said. "We will be running the radar, especially on 16th and 17th street." Oestmann also cautions students on leaving their car or dorm room unlocked while moving into University Housing. "We get a few theft reports every year right when students move in because they leave their rooms or cars unlocked while they are moving in," Oestmann said. "Give up convenience and take the extra few minutes to lock your car and room." Davis said he is looking forward to talking with students about any questions they may have for the University Police and any resident assistant who wants to invite him to speak is more than welcome to do so. "Most of the time students see us in a negative light," Davis said. "We want students to be able to talk to us and know we are here to help them." -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - August 23, 2007
STAFF EDITORIAL: UNLAlert a great idea, but needs some work
By:Editorial Staff Posted: 8/29/07 This summer, University Police, in cooperation with Information Services and University Communications, implemented a new software system called UNLAlert, most likely in response to the April shootings at Virginia Tech. The software, which students can download and install on their computers, communicates with UNL servers to provide alerts and updates in emergency situations. The thinking is that during an emergency, better communication and dissemination of information leads to a safer campus. We applaud the continuing effort of the university to keep students safe, but the software is by no means an all-inclusive safety net. Far from it, in fact. The software isn't much of an application at all. It's essentially a stand-alone Flash file - University Police are harnessing the same technology used to bring you online Su-Do-Ku puzzles and amusing "Pac-Man" imitation games. And it's big. Really big, actually. Its executable image, the program's memory footprint, is about 16 megabytes - bigger than AOL Instant Messenger and Mozilla Firefox, both of which are full-fledged desktop applications. It should come as no surprise, then, that it constantly consumed almost 10 percent of the processing resources on one of our brand new 2.2-gigahertz design computers. To put that in perspective: Adobe Photoshop, Apple iTunes, and Mozilla Firefox together use less than 3 percent while idle. UNLAlert is no little program that runs in the background. It's not a big deal, though, right? Who cares if it slows down your machine a bit - this application could save your life. Right? Assuming the two servers that are responsible for handling all the emergency alert requests for the entire campus - alert1 and alert2 - stay online, then yes, it could save your life. But, after reverse-engineering and analyzing the software, we're not only disappointed with its performance, we're disappointed with the way information is being distributed to computers. Instead of using industry-standard TCP/IP multicast, which allows data to be distributed to all "subscribers" simultaneously, instantly and efficiently, Information Services is using a simple Web server to distribute information. In an emergency situation, this could lead to heavy network congestion, which could then slow all of our Internet connections on campus to a stand-still. A slow, unresponsive network probably won't help emergency responders, university officials, students or staff. UNLAlert is a great idea that's been poorly executed. With a software rewrite and more robust network design, UNLAlert would prove to be a valuable tool. Until then, it might cause more problems than it solves. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - August 29, 2007
Consolation during the August 19th memorial dedication
Report of the Virginia Tech Review Panel
Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech April 16, 2007 Report of the Review Panel Presented to Governor Kaine Commonwealth of Virginia August 2007 Cover (pdf, 224kb) Inside Cover (pdf, 39kb) Table of Contents (pdf, 52kb) Dedication (pdf, 525kb) Foreward (pdf, 62kb) Acknowledgements (pdf, 51kb) Summary of Key Findings (pdf, 72kb) Chapters I - Background and Scope (pdf, 100kb) II - University Setting Security (pdf, 647kb) III - Timeline of Events (pdf, 103kb) IV - Mental Health History of Seung Hui Cho (pdf, 280kb) V - Information Privacy Laws (pdf, 156kb) VI - Gun Purchase and Campus Policies (pdf, 111kb) VII - Double Murder at West Ambler Johnston (pdf, 297kb) VIII - Mass Murder at Norris Hall (pdf, 399kb) IX - Emergency Medical Services Response (pdf, 855kb) X - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (pdf, 175kb) XI - Immediate Aftermath and the Long Road to Healing (pdf, 177kb) Appendices A - Executive Order 53 (pdf, 932kb) B - Individuals Interviewed by Research Panel (pdf, 94kb) C - Public Meeting Agenda (pdf, 155kb) D - Recommendations on Revised Methodology (pdf, 79kb) E - Virginia Tech Guidelines for Choosing Alerting System (pdf, 54kb) F - Active Shooter Excerpt from University of Virginia Emergency Response Plan (pdf, 65kb) G - Guidance Letters on Interpretation of FERPA and HIPAA Rules from U.S. Department Of Education (pdf, 5.85MB) H - Summary of Information Privacy Laws and Guidance from U.S. Department of Education (pdf, 87kb) I - Federal and Virginia Gun Purchaser Forms (pdf, 2.87MB) J - Notification of Adjudication of Involuntary Commitment or Incapacitation (pdf, 512kb) K - Articles on Mixture of Guns and Alcohol on Campus (pdf, 790kb) L - Fatal School Shootings in the United States: 1966-2007 (pdf, 1.75MB) M - Red Flags, Warning Signs and Indicators (pdf, 68kb) N - A Theoretical Profile of Seung Hui Cho (pdf, 48kb) -- Original Sources: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/TempContent/techPanelReport.cfm http://www.vtreviewpanel.org/report/index.html
Massacre at V.T. affects colleges across nation
As Tulane officials rethink security policies, some Tulane students express personal grief over Monday's events By: Marta Dehmlow Posted: 4/20/07 Students at Virginia Tech and all over the nation will remember April 16 as a day that shattered the security of college campuses everywhere. "How do you have openness and accessibility and make sure the campus is as safe as possible?" Tulane University president Scott Cowen asked in an April 18 interview with the Hullabaloo. "Campuses are sacred ground." This "sacred ground" was desecrated, however, when Cho Seung-Hui, a 22-year-old senior at Virginia Tech, shot and killed 32 students and injured 26 more before turning his gun on himself. The largest school shooting in history has torn apart the Virginia Tech college community in Blacksburg, Va., leaving college students nationwide doubtful about the security of their own institutions. "It can happen anywhere," senior neuroscience major Jen Velarde said. "Crazy people are out there. It can happen so easily; there's such a fine line. As much as you secure a building, if a student is going to do this, it can happen." And it has happened a number of times before, university officials said. "This is not really an isolated incident," Tulane University Police Department director Ken Dupaquier said, citing past shootings on college campuses. "People think that it hasn't happened before or in a long time, but it has." Nationwide, college students empathizing with their Virginia Tech counterparts have demonstrated their solidarity. Jonathan Horner, a senior microbiology major who has several close friends at Virginia Tech, showed support for the affected school by changing his facebook picture to one saying "Today we are all Hokies," referring to Virginia Tech's mascot. He, like many other college students, also joined a facebook group memorializing the victims. "I also called and messaged all my friends," he said. "I told them I'm praying for them and their school." Other students were more immediately affected by the massacre at Virginia Tech. Maura Bowlin, a sophomore English major, spent her freshman year at Virginia Tech before transferring to Tulane in the fall of 2006. "It's eerie to think I've walked the halls of [Ambler-Johnston Residence Hall and Norris Hall]," Bowlin said about the sites of the two shootings. Although she has many friends at the school, Bowlin said she has not quite felt the full effect of the situation. "It hasn't really sunk in. We talk about it in every single class, which I wish we didn't," Bowlin said. Bowlin explained that Cho was not a typical Virginia Tech student. As a senior, the gunman lived on campus, "which almost no one does after freshman year. So that was weird." She also had a friend who was supposed to be in one of the classrooms in Norris Hall. "She slept through the class," Bowlin said. "I knew a few people who just didn't go to class because they had a feeling." Kerry Kraft, a sophomore communication major, spent Fall 2005 at Virginia Tech, where one-quarter of her high school class attends. "I was distraught when I tuned on the TV. I spent all day on the phone or in front of [it]," Kraft said. She knows a number of students at Virginia Tech, and she was very concerned, Kraft said. "I was lucky," Kraft said. "Everyone I know was all right, but they were all affected directly or indirectly. I was lucky not to be directly affected." The events have also caused Tulane's administration and campus police force to reiterate their security measures and emergency preparedness plan. "All of our public safety officers are trained as police officers at the academy, like NOPD. Therefore they have at least been prepared," Cowen said. Prior to the Virginia Tech massacre and Hurricane Katrina, a decision was made to update the emergency response system. "We will have six different phone numbers for each student, plus e-mails will get blasted by information [in the event of an emergency]", Cowen said. The new system will also include the ability to text message students' cell phones. Dupaquier believes that with Tulane's current protocol, an event such as this one would have been avoided. "Our protocol for dealing with students with similar traits to [Cho's] is that we would have liked to intervene," Dupaquier said. "We have a mechanism in place between Public Safety, Student Affairs, the Educational Resource Center, the student health center and the deans that would catch this, hopefully." Tulane, like many other colleges, is also reassessing current systems. A task force is being created headed by Vice President Anne Banos. It will involve different arms of the university and several student leaders to help ensure that such a horrific event does not happen at Tulane. "We will see what changes, if any, need to be made in our protocol," Dupaquier said. "The president expects an answer in a timely manner. Not in a matter of months, but Cowen expects recommendations in a few weeks." While the administration and public safety department are concerned first and foremost with the well-being of Tulane students, they extend their sympathies to the Virginia Tech community. "Obviously, we are devastated for those that were killed, and their friends and family," Cowen said. "We are not strangers to tragedy, and we can identify. We will do whatever we can to help." Cowen said the school has offered counseling and Student Affairs personnel to offer help as students, staff and faculty at Virginia Tech cope with the tragedy. -- Original Source: The Hullabaloo - April 20, 2007
"Dickson, Drew D." <ddickson@tulane.edu>
Questions arise from tragedy at Va. Tech
In wake of tragedy, nation is encouraged to focus on heroic victims of school shooting By: Megan Cox Posted: 4/20/07 A great atrocity occurred in Blacksburg on the morning of April 16. Cho Seung-Hui, a Korean-born English major at Virginia Tech, shot 62 students and teachers, killing 32 people, wounding 29 and leaving an entire nation in shock and mourning. Many people question how and why a single deranged individual could so proficiently commit "the deadliest rampage in American history." Did the university perform all of its duties to secure the safety of its students? Could a better response have saved any lives? How is the media handling this tragedy? What actions is the president taking? Could gun control laws have prevented this tragedy? Who was Cho Seung-Hui, and why did he commit these murders? Details are now trickling in about the young murderer. In an English class, he wrote plays full of grotesque violence. The playwriting professor and the English department had sought help for the young man. He was detached and troubled. He was admitted to a mental institution in late 2005. Possibly the most disturbing piece of the twisted psychological puzzle is that Seung-Hui sent a multimedia package to NBC News between the killings in the dorm and the massacre in the classrooms. It is too soon, both temporally and emotionally, to delve into all of the issues this tragedy presents. Of course, that a man like Seung-Hui should have such ready access to firearms is disturbing, and that the media is turning a profit by running such intense coverage of the tragedy is indeed unnerving. However, all these questions will pale in comparison to the introspection of human nature that follows such atrocities caused by a single man. There is evil in our midst. Some things, some acts, some people, are so horrible as to merit the use of that overused epithet. Whether people are born into it or are brought into it, whether it is caused by neglect or ridicule, whether it festers or can be cured, there can be little denying that it does surface in our society. One man can come to embody evil in our lives. One man has ended dozens of lives and wreaked havoc on many others. One deeply troubled man can control our lives, drowning us in fear and sorrow. Yet, as we weep over the acts of one disturbed man, we must resist the temptation to gloss over all of humanity as grotesque and depraved. We do have a great capacity for ordinary heroism. Doctor Liviu Librescu was a Romanian-born Holocaust survivor. When the gunman tried to storm his classroom, Librescu blocked the door with his body and told his students to flee. At least nine of his students were able to jump out of the window to safety because of Librescu's actions. Librescu died a hero. Ryan Clark was a jovial psychology major, a member of the Virginia Tech Band and a Resident Advisor in the West Ambler Johnson dorm. He was killed when he came to the aid of another student being attacked by Seung-Hui. Clark, too, died a hero. Every time we think we've reached our capacity as human beings, we need only look at the actions of others to realize that capacity might well be limitless. Heroes exist in everyday life. When put to the test, these people shine. They remind us of the good we all possess, of our capacity to do right even in the face of evil. We must remember to focus on the good of the heroes rather than the evil of the killer in the wake of this tragic event. -- Original Source: The Hullabaloo - April 20, 2007
Overview of the findings and recommendations of the April 16 tragedy internal review committees
By Larry Hincker BLACKSBURG, Va., August 22, 2007 -- On May 9, 2007, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger directed three internal reviews in the wake of the April 16 tragedy on the Virginia Tech campus. He directed the chairs "to look at strengths and weaknesses of our existing systems/infrastructure and how they may be improved or augmented to address emergency situations that might arise in the future." These reviews are internal in structure and focus and not intended to be forensic in nature. Says Steger, "I asked for the creation of two different, but concurrent review processes. The external review commissioned by Governor Kaine is essentially investigatory in nature, while ours is a forward looking review of university policy, resources, and infrastructure through the prism of April 16." The Security Infrastructure Group was charged with examining the university's existing security systems and recommending changes that would enhance the university's ability to respond quickly and effectively in situations where the safety of the campus community is jeopardized. This group was also directed to identify strategies that might decrease the probability of such situations occurring, looking at both technological and behavioral aspects. The Information and Communications Infrastructure Group analyzed and inventoried the communication infrastructure and information systems used during the crisis period, evaluated their performance, and identifies tactics and strategies for improvements. The Interface Group evaluated the relationships between the university's student counseling services, academic affairs, judicial affairs, and the legal system. It was charged with examining the existing systems and the interface between them and determining what constraints, legal or otherwise, hamper effective interactions in order to respond to and support at-risk students. Security Infrastructure Group Among its findings the security infrastructure group found good cooperation and sound agreements between Virginia Tech and local police, fire, and EMS jurisdictions including ongoing training exercises; sound emergency communications; robust communications infrastructure; a sound emergency preparedness plan; engagement of the leadership in campus emergencies; and a nationally accredited campus police department. The security group recommends enhancements in physical infrastructure, emergency communications, emergency preparedness, and selected protocols. Infrastructure recommendations include modification of building door hardware, installation of locks on general assignment classrooms, evaluating the utility of centrally controlled electronic key card access to key academic and administrative facilities (such as the system currently in place on all residence halls), constructing a public safety building combining the university police and rescue squad, and evaluating installation of centrally monitored video surveillance cameras. Communications recommendations include mass notification techniques within classrooms and other locations, message board in key or high profile public areas and along major vehicular thoroughfares, a people locator system, and further articulation of the recently adopted VT Alerts notification system. Emergency preparedness recommendations include updating the emergency preparedness plan, more frequent emergency exercises or drills, creation of building coordinators for emergencies, and identification of backups for the policy committee (university leadership with oversight of an emergency). Protocols include increased education of the university community about appropriate emergency response actions and creation of a comprehensive security master plan and campus security committee. Read the full Security Infrastructure Group report (PDF) ›› Information and Communications Infrastructure Group Broadly defined, telecommunications comprises the university's data network, telephone systems (university and/or vendor owned), cable TV, educational systems, and centralized information services. They were dramatically stressed but performed adequately during the crisis. The university on-campus phone system was not degraded but was affected by external problems. External cellular telephone systems and the Public Switched Telephone Network (hardwire telephone systems off campus) experienced huge demand increases and experienced some blocking of calls during the initial periods of the crisis on April 16. Other university systems experienced some loading, which were quickly identified and rectified, and performed well with no significant problems. For example, the university website www.vt.edu saw a 3,000 percent increase in traffic on April 16, Virginia Tech Police dispatch experienced 450 percent increase, and the university switchboard experienced a 300 percent increase in calls. Emergency Responder Radio Communication continues to suffer nationally and locally from "interoperability" issues because they use a variety of radio systems and frequencies. Radio systems typically do not support mobile data, encryption, GIS, or other advanced capabilities. Indicative of relatively common signal penetration problems in large buildings, emergency responders reported that radios did not work in some areas of Norris Hall. This group provides a series of strategic and tactical recommendations. The full report details more than 120 tactical recommendations. Two major strategies emerge: 1) Installation of a new fully integrated digital campus architecture for all telecommunications functions based on Internet Protocol (IP). The new system, based on a diverse optical core and including wireless and wired access, would fully integrate all telecommunications functions including voice, video, data, entertainment, and educational systems. This system could remediate every problem and enable every innovation identified by the study committee. 2) Make selected research and administrative IT capabilities available to local first responders to improve radio communications capabilities. In addition to improving interoperability problems, the new systems would be integrated with IP based information architecture allowing new applications such as GIS, identity management, sensor networks, location awareness, high-speed links to criminal information databases. Read the full Information and Communications Infrastructure Group report (PDF) ›› Interface Group The Interface Group looked at policies, procedures, capabilities and interdepartmental relationships and communications for the selected areas related to identifying and supporting at-risk students. By its nature the system was found to be logically connected and responsive. The Division of Student Affairs is at the core and supported by and interacting with law enforcement, the academic enterprise, and other university resources offices. Consistent with the national findings of the federal report commissioned by President Bush, the Interface Group found some confusion about applicability and interpretation of privacy laws among some offices or faculty. To some extent, this created internal silos and feedback problems preventing some offices from having salient information on students at risk. The "system may not be robust enough to provide the kind of analysis that is warranted by more complex, high risk cases... with need for significant mental health services." The committee makes a series of recommendations under three broad themes: 1. Expanding Capacity in the System Refining and expanding the Care Team, a key SA group that identifies and responds to students at risk (among other responsibilities), including addition of VTPD to standing membership and connecting academic personnel to deliberations where appropriate. Creating a Threat Assessment Team charged with examining the most complex cases of distressed students and empowering it to act quickly, when necessary. Expanding Case Management Capacity by adding case managers to the Dean of Students office and Cook Counseling Center to improve follow-up with students and to improve information flow through appropriate units about students at risk. 2. Improving Communications in the System Improve Communications in the Systems with particular emphasis on privacy law education throughout the university, clarifying policies for communications with external agencies, establishing a central university contact with a clear picture of distressed students. 3. Connecting Strategies for Identifying and Supporting at Risk Students to the Broader University Plan for Campus Safety Expanding Training of Administrators, Faculty, and Staff in Violence Prevention recognizing the campus safety is the province of all university employees to some extent. Extending the University-wide Violence Prevention Policy to integrate the numerous university-wide efforts to enhance campus safety. Building Community to Promote Individual and Community Well Being Virginia Tech has a strong, supportive, and vibrant community which is essential in creating a safe campus environment with very good policies and support systems. However, it is recommended that a more systematic approach be instituted with campus well-being as a goal. Read the full Interface Group report (PDF) ›› Read and/or listen to formal statements regarding the reports: Charles W. Steger, president (MS Word) | Listen James A. Hyatt, executive vice president and chief operating officer (MS Word) | Listen Earving L. Blythe, vice president for information technology (MS Word) | Listen Jerry Niles, retired dean, College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences (MS Word) | Listen Contact Larry Hincker at hincker@vt.edu or (540) 231-5396. ##07433## -- Original Source: Virginia Tech News http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2007&itemno=459
Kevin Granata, PhD (December 29, 1961–April 16, 2007) [Obituary]
(PDF, 172KB; Full text below.) Kevin Granata, PhD (December 29, 1961-April 16, 2007) [Obituary] Marras, William S. PhD; Stokes, Ian A. F. PhD; Abel, Mark F. MD Address correspondence to William S. Marras, PhD, E-mail: marras.1@osu.edu; Ian A. F. Stokes, PhD, E-mail: istokes@uvm.edu; and/or Mark F. Abel, MD, E-mail: MFA2M@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu Kevin Granata, PhD, died tragically at the age of 45 on April 16, 2007 on the campus of Virginia Tech where he had worked since 2003. He had started the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics lab at Virginia Tech and held the rank of Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics. Dr. Granata was a prolific and innovative contributor to the field of spinal biomechanics. Dr. Granata earned a PhD in biomechanics in the Biodynamics Laboratory at Ohio State University in 1993, where he used both analytical models and experiments with human subjects to determine the magnitude of muscle forces around the lumbar spine in the work place. His early contributions in this area dealt with integrating electromyographic (EMG) data into analytical models, reflex responses to loads, and the relationship to trunk stability. He also expanded understanding of how brain injury in children with cerebral palsy interferes with balance and movement, using his training in dynamics and control theory. Dr. Granata was one of the most gifted engineers in the field of biomechanics. His scientific achievements are documented in 66 peer-reviewed articles published in a broad range of scientific journals, including Spine. His extraordinary productivity in his tragically shortened career was directed especially at two areas of control theory applied to neuromuscular control of movement—movement impairments in people with cerebral palsy and dynamic aspects of trunk stability. He introduced new and challenging concepts, questioning the accepted paradigms. He pioneered the idea of reflex dynamics in trunk stability, representing the trunk as a multi-joint system stabilized by muscles having activation dependent stiffness and reflex delays with variable gain. This was tested in critical experiments involving pseudo-random perturbations of human subjects, with the data subjected to nonlinear systems-identification analyses. His most recent paper establishes the necessity for having reflex muscle responses in the control of spinal stability. He was extraordinarily talented in his thinking, in attracting the best students, and tenacious in obtaining funding and pursuing rigorous peer-reviewed publications for his work. Visiting his lab was exhilarating. In all areas of his research, he combined innovative theoretical models and tested them in cunningly designed experiments using human subjects. He undertook ambitious clinical gait studies, including pre- and postoperative comparisons, to identify interactions between gait patterns and recruitment of multi-joint limb muscles. These theories are now making their way into clinical practice. Dr. Granata was extremely logical and had a keen intellect. He was a big picture thinker and possessed a "moral intellect;" he always tried to do the right thing. He was a gifted lecturer and teacher, and a great mentor to his students whom he respected, and from whom he commanded respect. While he delved into complex concepts to spinal stability, he was able to make these concepts understandable to everyone; he loved to use simple models to clarify complex theoretical ideas. Like most successful people, Kevin Granata was determined, tough, disciplined, and highly educated. His Ohio upbringing included farm work, carpentry, athletics, and of course academics. Kevin was clearly a whole person; he was a consummate educator, a man of action, and a compassionate family man. His immediate family that survives him includes his wife, Linda, and three beautiful, bright children to whom he was devoted. It is estimated that Kevin Granata's memorial service was attended by nearly 1000 people; he touched the lives of so many. He will be sorely missed by numerous colleagues around the country, around the world, and by the generations of students whom he has mentored. -- Archived with permission of publisher. Original Source: Spine, Volume 32(16), 15 July 2007, p 1699 http://www.spinejournal.com/pt/re/spine/abstract.00007632-200707150-00002.htm;jsessionid=GSpb6WnRHjhjVGPCh7MRpZJ1pL1GG6YHGZ40vRNxnzLcQntGSlB3!-79285651!181195629!8091!-1
William S. Marras, Ian A. F. Stokes, and Mark F. Abel
David O'Brien Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Medical Research, a division of Wolters Kluwer Health Worldwide Copyright Management Group Licensing Manager 351 W. Camden St. Baltimore, MD 21201 + 1 410.528.4016 PH + 1 410.528.8550 FX David.OBrien@wolterskluwer.com
Reflections on a Mass Homicide (Commentary)
(PDF, 30KB; Full text below.) Commentary Reflections on a Mass Homicide Jimmy Lee,1 MBBS, MMed (Psych), Tih-Shih Lee,1,2 MD, PhD, FRCP (C), Beng-Yeong Ng,1 MBBS, MMed (Psych), FAMS 1 Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore2 Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore Address for Correspondence: Dr Tih-Shih Lee, Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Outram Road, Singapore 169608. Email: tihshih.lee@gms.edu.sg Introduction The names "Virginia Tech" and "Cho" will be associated forever with the tragic mass homicide of 32 persons cum suicide by Seung-Hui Cho on 16 April 2007. In the aftermath, many questions have been posed: "What happened and why?", "Was he crazy?", "Could it have been prevented?", "Could it happen here?" This was the third mass killing in a US campus, with the largest number of fatalities. The first was in 1966 in the University of Texas with 16 dead and 31 wounded, then the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, in which 13 students were killed. We do not profess to know more about what happened in Blacksburg, Virginia, or Cho's neuropsychiatric condition than whatever is published in the popular press.1 But through a series of questions, we reflect on this tragedy, attempt to place it into a human and psychiatric perspective, and offer insights into if, and how, it can be averted in the future. Question 1: Was Cho insane? Cho was described as a shy and quiet child, who was good in mathematics, but struggled with English. There were allegations of him being taunted and bullied in school since young. Both his pastor and relatives had suspected he might be autistic and suggested professional assistance. There was no record of him being involved in overt violence except that he had harassed 2 female classmates, one of whom called in the campus police. He expressed suicidal ideation and was involuntarily committed by a judge in a mental health facility briefly for assessment. A psychiatrist wrote in his chart, "Affect is flat and mood is depressed" and "Insight and judgment are normal," and released him. He was supposed to have been on some treatment regimen but may not have adhered to it. In English Literature classes he wrote on haunting themes of violence and death. Moreover, from the rantings of his final macabre video, it can be inferred that he had grandiose and persecutory thoughts. One could conceivably argue that anybody who murders en masse and then commit suicide must be insane. But insanity is an imprecise term that is no longer in the psychiatric lexicon. So we ask if he met criteria for a diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) or International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10)? Or was he of a criminal antisocial or psychopathic mind? Unfortunately without having interviewed him or having access to his records, we cannot say for sure. We could speculate that he was depressed with delusional thoughts, and perhaps had undiagnosed Asperger's disorder (a mild variant of autism), or was taking illicit substances. But we do not have enough evidence to be certain of a definitive psychiatric condition that could account for his extremely violent behaviour. Question 2: Was it due to psychosocial developmental difficulties? Cho emigrated at the age of 8 years from South Korea and had difficulty speaking English. He was reportedly ostra-cised by his classmates and was isolated. The effects of migration on mental health are well described in the litera-ture. In the US, alienation is a problem for many Asians. Among Southeast Asians, the Hmong feel the most alien-ated, followed by Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese.2 Many symptoms could be due to acculturative difficulties, racism, and overwork. A migrant faces difficulties with 3 main areas; changes in social environment, changes in interpersonal relations, and cultural differences.3 Reports from those who knew Cho strongly supported the roles of these 3 factors in his maladjustment to the new country. From his video and writings, it is evident that he had tremendous envy and rage projected onto better-adjusted and well-to-do American kids. Southeast Asian refugees have higher rates of brief reactive psychosis and paranoid psychosis compared to other Americans.4,5 Sometimes paranoia develops among Southeast Asians when they are dealing with a new environment and experiencing "varying degrees of miscommunication, fear of rejection, and feeling mistreated, slighted or discriminated against".6 Psychosis among Southeast Asians can take the form found in many ethnic groups, e.g. "Aliens' paranoid psychosis", a syndrome characterised by a usually short-lived xenophobia and by feelings of persecution because one belongs to an ethnic minority group.7 On the other hand, the overwhelming majority of immigrants and minorities are well-adjusted and functioning, despite having endured many of the same stressors that Cho endured. In particular, his sister, who shares much of his genetic substrate and environmental milieu, had apparently been doing very well. Many immigrants may have coping difficulties, but they do not usually resort to violence. The other 2 campus mass murderers were neither immigrants nor from minority groups. So, whereas difficulties relating to migration probably played a part in his violence, it would be simplistic to attribute it to primarily these stressors. Instead it would be a disservice to the large immigrant and ethnic minority communities. Question 3: What factors may have precipitated Cho's sudden outburst? There is a small literature considering situational factors and triggers that have consistently been found to be important in initiating a homicidal episode. Triggers for murder in Ressler et al's study8 included financial, legal, employment, marital and other conflicts. Emotional states such as frustration, anger, hostile moods, and feeling agitated and excited were reported at a lower frequency. Levin9 has offered a four-factor model of sudden indiscriminate mass killing. First, the potential offender has led a "life of frustration"; second, he has access to, and the ability to use, firearms; thirdly, there is a significant destabilising experience of a loss of "social controls", such as moving to a new area or the loss of an important relationship; fourth, there must be a precipitating event such as unemployment or divorce. Gresswell and Hollin10 have suggested that a more useful way of conceptualising the "firearms" component would be to consider that a fascination with weapons indicates a style of coping with stress, frustration, and low self-esteem that includes violent fantasies involving weapons. In such cases, the nature of such fantasies may be the best predictor of a homicidal response to a stressful event. Questions 4: Is there a neurological basis for aggression? Aggression refers to behaviour that is intended to cause harm, and is the behavioural manifestation of disturbances in the brain or mind. We now have some, though incomplete, appreciation of various neuroanatomical structures that may be involved in aggression. These structures include the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, and temporal lobe. In particular, some evidence suggests frontal lobe dysfunction in violent and criminal behaviour, especially in the presence of focal orbitofrontal lobe injuries.11 Brower and Price11 proposed that clinically significant focal frontal lobe dysfunction is associated with aggressive dyscontrol. Orbitofrontal syndrome is associated with behavioural excesses, impulsivity, disinhibition and mood lability. Outbursts of rage and violent behaviour occur after damage to the inferior orbital surface.12 Abnormal brain concentrations of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid are implicated in impulsivity and aggression.13 Pharmaco-therapy with selective serotonergic reuptake antagonists, antipsychotics as well as mood stabilisers have all been used in treatment, with mixed results. Studies of aggression in patients with brain injury suggest that their aggression tends to be (1) reactive, i.e., triggered by modest stimuli; (2) non-reflective, i.e., not premeditated or planned; (3) non-purposeful, i.e., does not serve long-term goals; (4) explosive; (5) periodic; and (6) ego-dystonic.12 Some of these features describe Cho's aggression. But we do not know, and may never know, if a definable lesion was present in Cho's brain, or if present, whether that was severe enough to account for the violent behaviour. With the evolving science on aggression, a discussion about "nature versus nurture" often arises, i.e. whether murderers are born or bred. Research has now demonstrated that genetic aberration per se is not the sole reason leading to violence; environmental factors such as childhood adversities play a significant part in the development of violent behaviour.14 Gene expression is influenced by environmental factors, and brain circuits are affected by life experiences. Question 5: How is dangerousness assessed? Psychiatrists are often called upon to determine how much a threat someone will pose to others and society, also known as dangerousness. Dangerousness is a subjective assessment of the element of danger attributed to a particular person and is qualitative in nature. Predicting dangerousness, particularly in an extreme form such as mass homicide, has been an elusive goal for those investigators who have attempted it. It is often said that "Hindsight is 20/20". When a person is exposed to be a murderer, we tend to focus on those warning signs in his character and biography that were previously ignored. For a category of violence such as mass homicide, however, the low base rate and consequent likelihood of finding false-positive results are overwhelming.15 Just as in Cho's instance, numerous questions were raised about the concerns of his teachers and the psychiatric assessment in November 2005. It must be emphasised that the assessment of dangerousness is not an exact science, and cannot yield a black-and-white result of "dangerous" versus "not dangerous". In our psychiatric assessments, we weigh various factors such as past history of violence, history of mental illness, personality, social background, context and state of mind in which dangerous behaviours manifest. Past behavioural patterns provide the best insight into future behaviours. However, the accuracy of dangerousness assessments quoted in the literature is as low as 0.33.16 Mossman17 in 1994 extracted 58 datasets from 44 published studies, and revealed that mental health professionals' violence predictions were better than chance. Current risk assessment tools such as the Historical/Clinical/Risk Management 20-item (HCR-20)18 and Psychopathy Checklist (revised) (PCL-R)19 offer a structured and more systematic approach to violence prediction, but none could tell with consistent (surely not 100%) accuracy that a person would re-offend. Homicide is clearly the most serious of all crimes. Approximately two-thirds of homicides involve the killing of a victim by a partner, relative, friend or acquaintance. This may partly explain why the clear-up rate for these crimes is particularly high - the police do not need to look very far in order to solve the majority of murders.20 The relation between mental illness and dangerous behaviours has been overemphasised, especially in the eyes of the public. There is a tendency to believe that murderers are mentally ill. However, a recent study among homicides in Singapore showed that 57% of murderers have no mental illness. Out of the 110 charged with murder, depressive disorders accounted for 9.1% and schizophrenia, 6.4%.21 The proportion of foreigners (defined here as non-citizens and non-permanent residents) who committed murder in Singapore was significantly higher compared with locals, which supports the earlier point about the stressors of migration. Also, foreigners tend to suffer from more serious psychiatric disorders, are less likely to have a known history of violence, and are more likely to be new to psychiatric services.22 This implies that the first violent outburst is usually the first presentation to psychiatric services. Cho did not have a history of overt violence prior to April 16. Question 6: What about the psychological trauma to family and friends of the victims? For those who saw their friends getting shot and killed, those who were injured and those who survived unharmed, the families and friends of the victims, it would be very difficult to collectively summarise the ordeal they went and are still going through, as each will have their own individual experience of it. Some may be at high risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but others will cope fairly well with milder symptoms. But it is safe to say that life will never be the same again. And we must not forget the hapless and unfortunate family of Cho, whose suffering cannot be fathomed. There were positive measures taken by the school and public authorities in the aftermath that are worth learning. The measures included leave from school, time and ceremony to grief, and the provision of counsellors to all students of the school. School events such as examinations and convocation ceremonies continued as usual in an attempt to restore normalcy. The telecast of Cho's video on national TV was highly controversial. Many others around the world later saw Cho's nefarious video and images of the "massacre". The national broadcast potentially traumatised viewers and re-traumatised survivors. In addition, it helped Cho achieved his aim of broadcasting his views, possibly achieving "martyrdom", and it may inadvertently encourage copycat murderers, as if a race were on to increase the body count. We would strongly urge that TV network companies and their regulating agencies revisit the guidelines and regulations on such telecasts. Question 7: Can it happen to us? Mass murder in a US school or college is a relatively rare event - three times in 40 years, despite the widespread availability of firearms and the large numbers of disenfranchised youths. Hence, it can be described as a low-probability, catastrophic-outcome event, like an earthquake occurring on a given day. The probability of its happening is very low, but once it hits, the results may be catastrophic. For countries with strict firearm and explosive control laws, the risk of a mass murder on the same scale is much lower. With the benefit of hindsight, to discuss what the psychiatrist or the judge should have diagnosed or done is moot now. There was and always will be a balance between protection for society and infringement of the individual's civil liberties. This dilemma is all the more difficult if the assessment is made before a crime is actually committed. It would be virtually impossible for a psychiatrist to predict which of the patients would commit violence, least of all mass murder. If the decision is to commit the patients as a preventive measure, how long should the internment last, and who would set him free? Nevertheless, for psychiatrists and all doctors, this is a timely reminder to be thorough and diligent in the assessment for dangerousness, and to acknowledge that we are far from perfect in our assessments. Under Section 34 of the Mental Disorders and Treatment Act (1973, revised in 1985), any registered physician in Singapore may refer a patient suspected to be of unsound mind or requiring psychiatric treatment to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for evaluation and treatment. IMH is the only gazetted mental hospital that has the statutory authority to hold patients involuntarily, should the person be deemed to be suffering from a mental illness, and detention serves the person's best interests and those of other persons. For the majority of patients who are deemed not to need involuntary hospitalisation, there is little we can do to enforce treatment, other than relying on the family to supervise medications and appointments. If we suspect that a patient may pose a specific threat to another person, we may face an ethical dilemma with regard to confidentiality. This issue brings us back to the landmark Tarasoff case where the Californian courts found the therapist negligent for not warning the intended victim of a threat.23 Kok et al24 discussing this case with regard to the applicability of the Tarasoff ruling in Singapore, concluded that in the absence of local case law, a psychiatrist caught in this situation should consult the Singapore Medical Council prior to breaching doctor-patient confidentiality. The Cho case also brings to mind the problems of troubled youths in Singapore - a combination of disengagement from society, low self-esteem, poor coping with rising expectations, and academic pressures. These forces predispose them to seek alternative forms of release and validation, such as using illicit substances and joining street gangs. Therefore, parents and school authorities should always be on the lookout for troubled or poorly adjusted youths. If need be, they should be referred to mental health professionals for evaluation and treatment. Another lesson in the local context would be for us, as a society, to be more tolerant and empathic to those who are less well-adjusted and successful, especially foreigners and migrants, so as to minimise resentment and wrath. Conclusion In summary, as we try to make sense of this apparently senseless violence, we find ourselves in the recurring debate of nature versus nurture. We probably will never know what Cho was really thinking when he pulled the trigger repeatedly, or nor can we be sure if he had a psychiatric condition that fulfilled DSM IV or ICD-10 criteria. Our hypothesis is that he had an underlying neurobiological or genetic vulnerability; he endured developmental psychosocial stressors in a chronic invalidating environment; and that finally some yet unknown "third-hit" triggered his rampage. Nevertheless, we highlight the need for thorough assessments of dangerousness by mental health professionals despite the limitations of our tools; the need for a system to attend to the psychological anguish of the survivors and loved ones of the victims; and the need for us collectively to adopt a more empathic stance towards our less fortunate brethren. We also remember the 33 lives extinguished and countless more traumatised on that Spring day in 2007. REFERENCES Thomas E. Special Report: Making of a Massacre. Newsweek April 30, 2007:18-30. Nicassio P. Psychosocial correlates of alienation: study of a sample of Indochinese refugees. J Cross-cultural Psychol 1983;14:337-51. Moilanen I, Myhrman A, Ebeling H, Penninkilampi V, Vuorenkoski L. Long-term outcome of migration in childhood and adolescence. Int J Circumpolar Health 1998;57:180-7. Nicassio P. The psychosocial adjustment of the Southeast Asian refugee: an overview of empirical findings and theoretical models. 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Neuropsychiatry of frontal lobe dysfunction in violent and criminal behaviour: a critical review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001;71:720-6. Silver JM, Yudofsky SC, Anderson KA. Aggression. In: Silver JM, McAllister TW, Yudofsky SC, editors. Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury. Washington, DC: American Pychiatric Publishing, 2005. Swann AC. Neuroreceptor mechanisms of aggression and its treatment. J Clin Psychiatry 2003;64 Suppl 4:25-35. Reif A, Rosler M, Freitag CM, Schneider M, Eujen A, Kissling C, et al. Nature and nurture predispose to violent behaviours: serotonergic genes and adverse childhood environment. Neuropsychopharmacology 2007. Fox JA, Levin J. Serial murder: myths and realities. In: Smith MD, Zahn MA, editors. Studying and Preventing Homicide: Issues and Challenges. California: Sage Publications, 1999. Monahan J. The prediction of violent behaviour: Toward a second generation of theory and policy. Am J Psychiatry 1984;141:10-5. Mossman D. 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Ann Acad Med Singapore 2002;31:535-6. -- Archived with permission of the editor. Original Source: Annals, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, June 2007, Vol. 36 No. 6 http://annals.edu.sg/PDF/36VolNo6Jun2007/V36N6p444.pdf
Jimmy Lee, Tih-Shih Lee, and Beng-Yeong Ng
Kirat Kaur (Ms) Editorial Executive Annals, Academy of Medicine, Singapore annals@academyofmedicine.edu.sg
Stanley Evans, Contributing Reporter Students and faculty, including senior administration, formed a maroon "V" and an orange "T" on Freiberger Field last Friday to show their support for the Virginia Tech community. The turnout included various professors and administrators, including the provosts. President Eastwood wore a maroon button-down shirt. From the top of Kelvin Smith Library, photographers and cameramen captured the event. Two poses were taken: one with participants looking up at the camera, another with heads bowed. The composition of the photographs is similar to those taken of incoming freshman classes spelled out to read "Case" or "CWRU." "I think a lot of people really wanted to show their support to the community of Virginia Tech and I think that sentiment is only stronger if we do this as a large campus group as we are now," said Andrew Witte, who pinned a maroon and orange ribbon to his shirt. Three local television news teams and a Plain Dealer reporter were on hand to record the event. Student and faculty were interviewed, and students were asked to read biographies of the victims for a camera. Some students seemed skeptical of the coverage. "I think Case does this kind of stuff for the publicity," said a student who wished to remain anonymous. However, she was wearing maroon and orange and posed as part of the human letters. The USG executive board organized the event. Other organizations involved were the University Program Board, Class Officers Collective, Interfraternity Congress, Panhellenic Council, Residence Hall Association, and Media Board. Other events included painting the wall outside of Thwing in memoriam and a card signing in Thwing last Friday. The cards and pictures were sent to Virginia Tech on Monday. "I know we can't compare to their loss, but we at least are trying to do something," said Jose Baez. -- Original Source:The Observer - April 26, 2007
Country mourns and questions campus killings
By Lisa Kunkel Statesman Staff Reporter Horrific school shootings such as the Virginia Tech massacre leave people wondering what can possibly drive an individual to such extreme measures. Seung-Hui Cho took the lives of 33 people including himself at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. Initially, "investigators offered no motive for the attack," read the article on Yahoo! News the day of the shooting, titled "Gunman kills 32 in Virginia Tech rampage." Witnesses said Cho shamelessly opened fire as if he had no victims in mind, leaving the event to appear to be a random act of violence. "It's hard to say what was random and what wasn't," said professor Emily Gaarder, of UMD's Department of Sociology/Anthropology. Monday's shooting reminds us of another tragic event that occurred eight years ago in Littleton, Col., where two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 classmates and a teacher before taking their own lives at Columbine High School. Prior to Virginia Tech, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 in Austin at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th floor observation deck killing 16 people before he was gunned down by police, according to MSNBC. These tragic events, along with many others, leave many boggled with one main question: What brings young people like Cho, Harris, Klebold and Whitman to commit such horrendous acts of violence? Cho chose to tell the world his motive in a shocking yet disturbing videotape mailed to NBC news network the day of the shooting. "You had a 100 billion chances and ways to have avoided today," Cho said in the footage. "But you decided to spill my blood. You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off." Though there is no motive that could ever make such a horrendous act acceptable, Cho's disturbing message does help to clarify what was going through his mind. In the case of Columbine, investigators worked to find the killers' drive for a long time. After years of research on the case, the FBI and its team have come to the conclusion that "the school served as means to a grander end, to terrorize the entire nation by attacking a symbol of American life," according to an article at slate.msn.com. AP PHOTO Student Gatane Gallagher, 19, cries at a memorial on Virginia Tech's drill field. Gaarder noticed that the cases at Columbine and other schools often followed a stereotypical trend where the perpetrator was an outcast who was bullied. However, these mass murderers can often be clinically labeled "psychopaths." "Because of their inability to appreciate the feeling of others, some psychopaths are capable of behavior that normal people find not only horrific but baffling," wrote Dr. Robert Hare, in "Without Conscious," a book about the disorder. "For example, they can torture and mutilate their victims with about the same sense of concern that we feel when we carve a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner." Gaarder also noted that it is typically men who are involved in these situations. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice note that "males represent 77 percent of homicide victims and nearly 90 percent of offenders," and "approximately one-third of murder victims and almost half the offenders are under the age of 25." AP PHOTO Student Gatane Gallagher, 19, cries at a memorial on Virginia Tech's drill field Gaarder said random acts of violence happen everyday to and from all sorts of people and that there might be ways to help prevent these acts. "Maybe one thing we could do is teach the emotional skills as well as intellectual skills to students," Gaarder said. Gaarder felt that people should come together to discuss what can be done to keep UMD safe aside from gun control and increased security. "It would be a good conversation for students and faculty to have together," Gaarder said. "Students are at the frontline of people who could help bring attention to this." Sociology/Anthropology Professor Robert Weidner teaches his students daily about crime and the media. "From a criminology standpoint, you can't study it," Weidner said. "The hindsight of it is 20:20." Weidner said that high school shootings are very rare events and college are even more rare. "School is the safest place to be," Weidner said. Less than 7 percent of all crimes occur in school, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice. "Violent victimization is 20 percent lower among college students compared to non-college 18-24 year olds," Weidner said. -- Original source:<a href=
Statesman Editor-in-Chief Desk - Suraj Rambhia <eic@sbstatesman.org>
Our View is prepared by the Editorial Board which operates independently from the newsroom. By The Editorial Board On April 20, 1999, the United States watched in horror as the shootings at Columbine High School unfolded and sparked a series of high school violence that has ensued in the years after. As the shock of the initial shooting subsided, educators and students across the country scrambled to both understand and prepare themselves for this new and horrifying threat in American education. In the wake of last week's tragedy at Virginia Tech we can relate the emotion and logic of our response to Columbine as we struggle with the processes of grieving, understanding and preparing ourselves to trudge forward. While we will never entirely understand Seung-Hui Cho's motivation, feelings of anguish flood our mind as we try to comprehend the progression of his deadly thought-process. Although it is extremely difficult to find comfort following the deaths of so many, we can see as we did eight years ago that perhaps our best tools in the grieving process are overcoming and preparing as best we can for such events. Key to our understanding of these tragedies, is our attention to their most obvious similarities. The gunmen of Columbine, Virginia Tech and other schools across the country all felt they were waging a personal war with the world. While we are angry at them for their actions, if we can set aside those emotions and view them as victims of psychological disorders and an increasingly impersonal society, we can better grasp what led to these horrors. In doing such, we form a deep respect for our individual ability to prevent these atrocities by consciously guiding ourselves in being more aware, respectful and interactive with people we see on a daily basis. Our generation and the generations that will follow, live in a world where technological advancements allow us to move so rapidly that we can leave individuals behind and not even notice. While preventing these events must be our priority, we must also prepare for our reaction if they occur. Here at UMD for example, we can install locks on our classroom doors, public address systems, electronic command stations, etc. We can also publish lock-down procedures and ensure every campus community member knows what to do if anything were to happen. As we grieve for the victims of Virginia Tech, let us also move forward by devoting our individual and collective selves to preventing and preparing for a similar disaster. The most effective tool in ensuring our health and safety, which should be our number one priority, is not any piece of technology. Rather, it is our own attention to the people in the world around us. EDITORIAL BOARD: Karin Gelschus ~ Content Editor Joshua Newville ~ Editorial Writer Anna Woodwick ~ New Writers Editor -- Original Source:The Statesman - April 26, 2007
Security discussions arise after shootings
By Joel Runck Statesman Staff Reporter In light of the massacre at Virginia Tech on April 16, security protocols are being reevaluated and modified at campuses nationwide. UMD is also devising and implementing measures to improve security and emergency response. "I would say that the most effective means of notification that we have—and we've just installed this in the last six months— is our tone-alert radios," said Greg Fox, UMD vice chancellor of finance and operations. "Most frequently they would be used for weather emergencies, but they are also available for live-time communication for other emergencies as well." With 60 such radios distributed across major departments at UMD, locations in possession of tone-alert radios can correspond with agencies such as law enforcement and the National Weather Service during specific types of emergencies. "It's kind of the same philosophy as the old weather radios," said Joe Michela, director of UMD Auxiliary Services. "Now we have them around campus, but we have own antenna and receiver ... so that's how we get the message out to warn (people)." Michela said that during a gunman-at-large scenario, the radios would be used to notify campus police who would then notify Duluth police departments across the city. The most recent use of these radios other than monthly testing, occurred during the snowstorm closing in March. Currently, UMD has 10 licensed police officers on payroll and after massacre at Virginia Tech occurred, that same night, two officers were stationed throughout residence halls, according to Fox. In addition to police presence, Fox said that UMD has more than 100 surveillance cameras, which are primarily located in residence hall parking lots. Furthermore, Fox speculates that UMD will be receiving $300,000 from the U of M -Twin Cities Central Security to install cameras that will monitor people entering and exiting residence hall buildings. Other buildings under video surveillance include Swenson Science, the Sports and Health Center and the library. While deterrence is one measure, communicating during an emergency situation is quite another. On the day of the massacre at Virginia Tech, two individuals were gunned-down in a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. More than two hours later, 30 more people were killed in classrooms at Norris Hall, about a half-mile away on Tech's campus, according to the Associated Press. Tech sent out the first e-mail warning in regard to the first shooting at approximately 9:36 a.m. "E-mail was never intended to be a form of emergency communication," said Susan Latto, director of UMD Public Relations. On April 18, a bomb threat occurred at the U of M-Twin Cities campus, which resulted in the evacuations of several campus buildings. Latto, who has received training in emergency and crisis communication by both the State of Minnesota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that UMD strives to have efficient response systems in place "It's like buying car insurance," Latto said. "You always hope that you will never get in an accident just because you have insurance." Certain students have not changed their behavior patterns since the Virginia Tech incident and feel a strong presence of security on-campus. "I spend most of my time in the Swenson building in the research wing," said fifth-year student Nate Bruender. "To get back there, you have to go through an alarm door with this video camera, so for me, it's not much of a worry." Other students echoed Bruender's response and feel secure at UMD. "I feel like the campus is pretty close-knit and so I don't have to go outside a lot," said freshman Grace Johnson. "I feel pretty safe in that way because a lot of doors are locked—especially at night." Both Fox and Latto said that students can do their part by reporting any suspicious behavior to authorities. "Don't be nervous about calling 911," Fox said. "(Authorities) want that call if there is a reason that you think your safety is impaired." -- Original Source:The Statesman - April 26, 2007
Recent Shooting at Virginia Tech: Looking Through Another Lens
By John Williams "A 1st Sergeant handed me an ammo box of 240 rounds: the blood-stained rounds that my best friend had been using when he was shot and killed in an ambush, on a patrol that he wasn't supposed to be on, one day after we were told we were going to be back home." -Toby Hartbarger, Army SPC For me, it was this story that my mind instantly recalled after I heard about the shootings in Virginia last week, for Virginia Tech leads U.S. civilian schools in sending officers to the U.S. Military. It was a terrible tragedy, and I had heard of similar events before, but my thoughts intensified because the killings hit so close to home. I realized then that so many people I know have experienced similar, instantaneously deep connections to other tragedies that have occurred in different ways across the globe. It is these lightning connections, these synapses firing without control, that I would like to address. The tragedy at Virginia Tech (VT) is not an isolated incident, or an anomaly. Though some argue that Cho was insane, and while I have no doubt this might be true, we as a society commit acts of similar insanity on a regular basis. We must take notice of the correlation between a guy like Cho and people like us. The articles I have read about Cho try so hard to push him away from what we are; he was a loner, crazy, friendless, different. We point at the connections between his plays and his actions and wonder why his actions weren't noticed, or prevented. But what if we turn the camera on ourselves? It is much harder to look at the things we do — the video-game realities we spend time in, the films we see and books we read that are bound with senseless killing and violence — and ask the same questions. There is a surge of inspection thrown onto this lone figure, Cho, yet we place hardly an ounce of introspection onto ourselves. I would love to believe that the VT shootings were an isolated incident, that they were an anomaly, that I do not live in a world where such things can happen. But violent destruction is far too common an occurrence for me to believe that this is true. In the span of four days just last week in Houston, Texas, there were three separate incidents of men shooting others before committing suicide. There is constant and recurrent violence in our streets every day, especially in communities rife with poverty and oppression, such as New Orleans. Every day Iraq sustains the level of two Virginia Tech massacres. Only two weeks ago, a student with a bomb killed 40 fellow students at the University of Baghdad. I could go on, but I think most people realize that terrible things are happening, in different ways, to different degrees. Yet so often it seems as if we isolate these incidents, and pretend they don't relate to the world at large. But they do. Last week we ran an editorial urging the country to leave those affected by the VT shootings a litle space. While allowing time for grief is one thing, removing yourself from the collective consciousness is another. Everyone has to spend some time in grief: we all have jobs and classes, lives to live, and I'm not asking anyone to stop all that. What I am asking is for you to take as much time as you can spare to engage in these issues; examine the ways in which you can change, we can change. Change personally, locally, nationally, and globally. Because these are not separate tragedies. Because we are all connected, and everything we do is connected. -- Original Source:City on a Hill Press - April 26, 2007