A memorial to the engineering students and professors in the lobby of Patton Hall.
My youngest son, Travis Miller graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006, and my experiences goe back gto my early teens. As a woman, a Mom, and a researcher, the events of April 16, 2007, grabbed my full attention, and still do. You see, since 1993, I have been treated for a condition, called Bipolar/Manic Depression. My losses have been many, and severe, as in those 14 years, due to the disease, I had no judgment, no sense of reality. I have all my charts, and I now know I was very over medicated by my EX Dr of some 12 years. Life altering changes occured, for myself, and my 3 sons [who were not educated, nor had therapy] which resulted in Dad walking away, after 5 years. Treating mental illness, as something one chooses, or can "snap out of" is extreamly uneducated. The past 3 years, I have dedicated myself to research, and to understanding the past, as to understand the present, and hopefuly simplifly the future. Including my sons somewhat in the exploration, led to estrangement, and Family Protective Orders. I was not included in my son's graduation of 2006. Isolation, since 1993, continues from my family, but I now have a better understanding, throught my faith, Buddhism. I accept my part, and thankfully, injoy a full remission, which requires no prescriptive medication at present. But there is still fall out, and I am fighting the good fight, to bring awareness to Virginia, the Nation on the subject of Mental Health. Trying to understand April 16, 2007, I did know perhaps better that most, how Cho might have acted out his terror, his emense anger, at his perceived rejection, his isolation. I think he fell through the many "cracks" as it were, and that as a state with a D- rating by Nami, [mental health ass.] we have the chance for change. I wrote a Letter to the Roanoke times, on a bill before Congress, up in September for vote, on teaching K-12, good mental health. Yes, we need the tools, we need the education, to demistify, what is baseicaly a "chemical imbalnce", widely unreported, and over or undermedicated, and yes, ignored by too many. It is up to each of us to know, and to be aware of the very real symtoms, of mental illness. And I personaly want to do all I can to help, as I council freely in my hometown, happily 2 friends have also seen the "root' of their depression, and no longer take prescription medication, and are doing great. It is a process, and that is called life.
Creado por Gustavo D. Perednik El catoblepas - numero 64 - Junio 2007 - pagina 5 Sobre los defensores selectivos de derechos humanos, que son permisivos sólo con dictaduras. Borges advertía de no convertir la ética en una rama de la estadística, vicio que podría empujar a erróneas conclusiones, por ejemplo que la Segunda Guerra Mundial estalló por una agresión anglonorteamericana contra la inocente Alemania. Ello se deduciría de descontextualizar algunas cifras: durante la contienda fueron muertos cerca de diez mil civiles estadounidenses y unos cien mil británicos, cifras que contrastadas con los casi dos millones de civiles alemanes caídos podría hacer sospechar que el Tercer Reich fue veinte veces más víctima que sus enemigos. Acaso así lo habría planteado Amnistía Internacional, cuyo reciente informe acerca del año 2006 condena a Israel por «crímenes de guerra» durante la Segunda Guerra en el Líbano (12 de julio/14 de agosto de 2006. A.I. se basa en una asimetría insustancial: que han muerto miles de civiles libaneses y «apenas» centenares de hebreos. No repara en la causa de la asimetría: mientras el ejército israelí protege a sus civiles, los grupos terroristas como Hezbolá usan cínicamente a sus propios niños como parapetos para lanzar la agresión. Por medio de disparar sus misiles desde aldeas indefensas, los islamistas especulaban con que, cuando llegara la represalia israelí, sus mecenas mediáticos se apresurarían en exhibir a los judíos como agresores. Su cálculo mostró estar bien fundado y por ello fueron favorecidos por las agencias de noticias. Consistentemente antiisraelíes, los informes de A.I. revelan una conspicua tendenciosidad. Mucho más que Norcorea o Arabia Saudí, el país judío es permanente blanco de sus monitoreos. El Centro de Asuntos Públicos de Jerusalém publicó en 2004 un estudio que compara los informes de A.I. contra Israel con aquellos emitidos acerca de Sudán (éste es un excelente ejemplo después de que dos décadas de violencia étnica y religiosa resultaran en dos millones de muertos y cuatro millones de refugiados). Durante 2001 A.I. produjo siete informes sobre Sudán y 39 sobre Israel. Del estudio se desprenden dos datos elocuentes: 1) A.I. ignoró la destrucción de decenas de aldeas sudanesas, pero condenó una y otra vez la destrucción de cada casa palestina, aun cuando éstas sirvieran de refugio para terroristas; 2) A.I. soslayó miles de asesinatos de civiles sudaneses, pero criticó acremente cada muerte de terroristas activos a manos del ejército israelí. Pese a las críticas a su parcialidad, A.I. no modificó su rumbo y hasta 2003 produjo 52 informes sobre Sudán y 192 sobre Israel. Este año, para envolver su antisionismo en un manto de pretendida ecuanimidad, el informe de A.I. también critica al Hezbolá. La equiparación es de por sí agraviante, ya que pone en un mismo plano una sociedad pujante y democrática de casi siete millones de habitantes, con una banda terrorista teocrática de algunos miles que difunde en el sur libanés el odio de los ayatolás. A.I. pone en un mismo plano a un país que actúa bajo la ley para aplicar su inalienable derecho de autodefensa, con una caterva que esgrime el Corán para bombardear las ciudades de la Galilea con el objeto explícito de destruir nuestro país. Israel no tiene ningún reclamo frente al Líbano, y está dispuesto a firmar con esta nación un tratado de paz sin condiciones, tal como lo hiciera en el pasado (17 de mayo de 1983) hasta que el régimen fascista sirio obligó a que el tratado fuera unilateralmente anulado (los medios jamás volvieron a mencionar este tema para que nadie dedujera que Israel quiere paz). Sin duda los civiles libaneses sufrieron descomunalmente durante la guerra. Sin embargo, aunque no llame la atención de la prensa ni de AI, los civiles israelíes también sufren: cientos de miles de hebreos fueron repetidamente evacuados de sus hogares y albergados en refugios, tal como le está ocurriendo en estos días a la población de la ciudad de Sederot debido a la agresión de misiles del Hamás, ante la indiferencia de A.I. y del mundo. Síndrome confirmado Presidida hoy por una mujer musulmana, A.I. fue fundada en julio de 1961 por un abogado de origen judío que se había convertido al catolicismo pocos años antes. Se trata de un grupo de presión que promueve derechos humanos, aunque sólo en ciertos países. Su rama española presentó en mayo de 2004 en Barcelona un informe del conflicto de Oriente Medio en el que se alinea abiertamente con una de las partes y reclama que el gobierno español se oponga aun más de Israel. Su director, Esteban Beltrán, hace caso omiso al volcán del terrorismo islamista, y fiel al bizantinismo suicida de la extrema izquierda, exhorta a los españoles a distanciarse de Israel. Ese año un profesor de filosofía de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte, Don Habibi, condenó a A.I. en estos términos: Su obsesión sería sensata si Israel fuera el peor violador de derechos humanos en el mundo. Pero cualquier criterio objetivo mostraría que ello no es cierto. Incluso si salteáramos causa y efecto, y la necesidad de Israel de enfrentar una guerra existencial, nunca podría compararse su contienda con las de Sudán, Argelia o Congo. Como la de la ONU, la posición de la A.I. se relaciona más con la política que con los derechos humanos. El sociólogo Daniel Patrick Moynihan, quien activó con los Kennedy en el Partido Demócrata norteamericano y fue embajador de su país en la ONU a mediados de la década del setenta, acuñó un principio que lleva su nombre y reza más o menos así: «La cantidad de violaciones de derechos humanos en un país es inversamente proporcional a la cantidad de quejas sobre derechos humanos que se oyen en ese país». Cuantas más protestas hay en algún lugar, más protegidos parecen estar allí los derechos humanos. Aunque no se deduce de las ciencias exactas, la ocurrente definición refleja un aspecto olvidado de la realidad: como los Estados que más violan los derechos humanos también ahogan la libertad de expresión, las quejas provendrán habitualmente desde las zonas en donde es posible protestar. Un estudio de este año mostró que A.I. dedicó 48 documentos a Israel, 37 a Sudán, 17 a Hezbolá, 10 a la Autoridad Palestina y 2 a Arabia Saudí. La crítica ante datos tan contundentes generó una ilustrativa respuesta de parte del representante de A.I. en Israel, Amnon Vidan. Por un lado, éste admitió que a la organización le cuesta mucho contar con precisión los civiles libaneses muertos, debido a que los terroristas de Hezbolá en general no están uniformados y por ese detalle se los incluye en la categoría de «civiles». Pero por otro lado Vidan reiteró un principio moralmente pérfido: que A.I. espera de Israel un compartimiento mejor que el de sus enemigos precisamente por ser una democracia. Así se ratifica el síndrome Moynihan. Al momento de juzgar, A.I. será más estricta con los defensores de los derechos humanos que con quieres los infringen. Hay precedentes. Cuando se publicaron las caricaturas que mucho enojaron al mundo musulmán (30 de septiembre de 2005) A.I. aseveró que «el derecho a la libre opinión y expresión no es absoluto... conlleva responsabilidades y puede ser objeto de restricciones a fin de salvaguardar los derechos de otros...» En contraste, A.I. nunca ha salido en defensa del «otro» cuando éste es el judío, objeto en los países árabes de frecuentes campañas deshumanizadoras. A.I. reprende a Occidente cuando se defiende y cuando expresa libremente opiniones polémicas, pero perdona a sus enemigos cuando atacan y cuando difaman. Como no se trata de regímenes democráticos, pareciera que hay que ser más condescendiente con ellos. Junto a Moynihan cabe recordar a otro prohombre que bien simboliza la guerra que nos ha impuesto el islamismo. Cuando se produjo la masacre de 32 personas en la Universidad de Virginia (16 de abril de 2007) se destacó el heroísmo de un matemático israelí, Livio Librescu, sobreviviente del Holocausto y profesor de aerodinámica. A los 76 años de edad, Librescu usó su propio cuerpo como barricada para trabar la puerta del aula donde dictaba clase, y así impidió que el asesino Cho Seung-Hui ingresara a la sala de conferencias. Salvó de este modo la vida de sus estudiantes, que escaparon por las ventanas hasta que Librescu fue ultimado a balazos. Israel es Librescu: para sostener el portal de Occidente y sus libertades amenazadas, el país resiste solo la agresión de grupos como Hamás y Hezbolá. En lugar de gratitud, en general cosecha en los medios occidentales la acre incomprensión de aquellos a quienes está defendiendo. Parece que tienden a identificarse con los enemigos de Israel porque éstos no son democráticos, ergo hay que disculparlos. -- Fuente Original: EL CATOBLEPAS - Jerusalén http://www.nodulo.org/ec/2007/n064p05.htm
Gustavo D. Perednik perednik@netvision.net.il August 1, 2007
2007.04.17. A closer look at the epitaphs left by the students on the first memorial to the victims of the shooting. Photo courtesy of Ivan V. Morozov
2007.04.17. More message from the first memorial... Photo courtesy of Ivan V. Morozov
2007.04.17. More messages... Photo courtesy of Ivan V. Morozov
Items left at the memorial plaque of Erin Peterson on the drillfield. Photo taken on 5-1-07. Photo by Teri H. Hoover.
Teri H. Hoover <crystalirisphotos@gmail.com>
A letter left at the memorial plaque of Erin Peterson on the drillfield. Photo taken on 5-1-07. Photo by Teri H. Hoover.
This photo captured Erin Peterson's hokie stone. Photo Courtesy of Garry Thompson
Permission: Garry Thompson sthomp2813@aol.com
Erin Nicole Peterson's etched hokie stone at the memorial on the drillfield, surrounded by flowers and notes. The photo was taken on Monday, August 20, 2007, the first day of Fall 2007 classes. The memorial had been dedicated the previous day. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0
18 Aprilie 2007 Livia Cimpoeru, Eugenia Mihalcea Masacrul produs luni la Universitatea americana Virginia Tech din Blacksburg ar fi putut avea un bilant si mai tragic daca nu ar fi existat oameni ca Liviu Librescu. America retraieste in aceste zile cosmarul masacrelor lipsite de orice ratiune. Pe harta ororilor s-a adaugat luni universitatea tehnica din orasul Blacksburg, unde un tanar student a omorat 32 de persoane, inainte de a-si pune capat zilelor. Printre personajele centrale ale tragediei de la Virginia Tech se numara si un profesor de origine romana care a reusit, cu pretul vietii, sa salveze o parte dintre studenti. In dimineata fatidica, in sala 207 a cladirii Norris Hall, se desfasura un curs de germana. Cateva incaperi mai departe, profesorul Liviu Librescu, un reputat om de stiinta nascut in Romania, le preda studentilor. „Era o atmosfera cat se poate de normala", povesteste Richard Mallalieu, student al profesorului Librescu. Ultima ora a profesorului Librescu Brusc, in jurul orei 9.00, atacatorul intra in sala 207 inarmat cu doua pistoale si-l impusca pe profesorul Christopher Bishop in cap. Apoi incepe sa traga inspre cei circa 25 de studenti aflati in clasa. „Cel putin 30 de focuri", isi aminteste studentul Trey Perkins. Doar trei-patru studenti au supravietuit. Criminalul a iesit pe hol, unde a dat peste un ingrijitor care incerca sa ajute o fata ce zacea intr-o balta de sange. A tras de cinci ori asupra ingrijitorului si s-a intors spre 207, insa supravietuitorii blocasera usa. Atunci s-a indreptat spre sala 204, unde studentii urmareau o expunere de imagini a profesorului Librescu. Auzind focurile de arma din incaperea alaturata, studentii au intrat in panica. Profesorul Librescu s-a repezit la usa, incercand sa o blocheze. Curajul sau a salvat probabil mai multe vieti, caci, in timp ce el tinea usa, o parte dintre studenti au sarit pe ferestre. Vieti salvate cu pretul vietii Alec Calhoun, un alt tanar care participa la cursul de ieri al profesorului Librescu, isi aminteste cum, intr-o ultima secunda, inainte de a sari pe geamul salii de curs pentru a-si salva viata, a privit inapoi catre dascalul care tinea usa blocata cu propriul trup. Cu doar o ora inainte, sotia profesorului il adusese pe Librescu la universitate cu masina si il lasase in siguranta in campus, dupa cum noteaza publicatia israeliana „Ynetnews". Liviu Librescu locuia in SUA impreuna cu sotia sa, Marilena. Profesorul evreu de origine romana va fi ingropat in Israel, dupa cum a declarat pentru „Ynetnews" nora lui Liviu Librescu, Ayala. Aceasta a precizat ca sotia dascalului, Marilena, si fii Arieh si Joe, care traiesc in Israel, fac deja pregatirile pentru inmormantare. Ziarele israeliene au scris despre tragedia din Virginia, avand in prim-plan imaginea eroului evreu Liviu Librescu, care si-a pierdut viata chiar in ziua comemorarii Holocaustului. Si in Romania, profesorul nascut la Ploiesti este perceput ca un erou. UN PRIBEAG IMPLINIT Indragostit de scoala la care preda Profesorul evreu de origine romana Liviu Librescu a absolvit Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospatiala in cadrul Universitatii Politehnica din Bucuresti (UPB), in 1952. Si-a terminat studiile doctorale la aceeasi institutie de invatamant superior, iar apoi a lucrat pe functia de cercetator la Institutul de Mecanica a Fluidelor din cadrul Academiei de Stiinte. „In 1969 si-a sustinut teza de doctorat sub conducerea academicianului Carafoli. A facut calculele de rezistenta si de aeroelasticitate pentru proiectarea avioanelor IAR 93", explica prodecanul Serban Tomescu, fost coleg al romanului ucis in masacrul de la universitatea americana. Serban Tomescu spune ca a incercat inca de luni seara sa afle ce s-a intamplat cu prietenul sau din tinerete. Din pacate, nu i-a raspuns nimeni la telefon in Statele Unite. Ieri, dupa aflarea tristei vesti, ultimele fotografii facute impreuna cu Liviu Librescu si o scrisoare primita de la acesta in anul 2000 il fac sa depene amintiri. Imaginile sunt din acelasi an, 2000, atunci cand Universitatea Politehnica i-a acordat dascalului roman titlul Doctor Honoris Causa. „Mi-a cerut dupa eveniment sa merg cu el la mormantul parintilor sai din Ploiesti, dar pana la urma a spus ca merge singur", povesteste profesorul Tomescu. Tara de suflet si cea de adoptie Liviu Librescu a parasit Romania in 1978, desi Nicolae Ceausescu nu voia sa piarda un cercetator valoros. Supravietuitor al Holocaustului, profesorul de origine romana a reusit pana la urma sa ajunga in tara sa de suflet, Israel, cu ajutorul premierului israelian de la acea vreme, Menachem Begin. Librescu a fost profesor in cadrul Universitatii Tel-Aviv din Israel pana in 1984, cand a emigrat in tara tuturor posibilitatilor, America. Aici si-a implinit visul de a preda la una dintre cele mai prestigioase universitati din lume in domeniul ingineriei, Virginia Tech. Unul dintre fii sai, Joe, rezident in Statele Unite, povesteste pentru publicatia israeliana „Ynetnews" ca parintii sai duceau o viata simpla si fericita in vestul Virginiei, intr-o zona situata intre dealuri si munti. Fara sa caute castiguri materiale imense, profesorul Librescu era indragostit de scoala la care preda si ceea ce ii placea cel mai mult era sa-si invete studentii stiinte mecanice si aeronautica, spune fiul sau. „Profesorul Librescu s-a comportat intr-un mod exemplar in fata dezastrului. A tinut usa sa nu patrunda criminalul in clasa si a fost ucis prin aceasta de rafala de gloante", spune rectorul UPB, Ecaterina Andronescu. Universitatea Politehnica din Capitala si Universitatea Virginia Tech sunt, de ieri, in doliu. (Eugenia Mihalcea) Timisoara „Incerca sa faca o presiune stiintifica" Liviu Librescu a colaborat ani intregi cu profesori de la Facultatea de Mecanica din Timisoara, care sunt socati de veste. „Imediat ce am vazut stirile din Virginia, i-am trimis un e-mail in care il rugam sa-mi transmita noutati despre dumnealui. Nu stiam ca e unul dintre decedati. Nu puteam sa-mi imaginez ca putea sa se intample asa ceva acolo. Era o atmosfera deosebita, oamenii nici nu-si incuiau usile la case, toti se cunosteau intre ei, toti se salutau", spune profesorul Pantele Chelu de la Facultatea de Mecanica din Timisoara. „Era un om deosebit, politicos, incerca sa faca o presiune stintifica, dar intr-un mod extraordinar de politicos", adauga profesorul. „Stia sa puna intotdeauna intr-un mod deosebit problemele din mecanica vibratiilor, dar si probleme de impact al vehiculelor cosmice cu alte corpuri,", spune si Liviu Beledeu, profesor la aceeasi facultate. (Nicoleta Chiru) SOLIDARITATE „Romanii din Virginia, mai uniti dupa masacru" Romanii din Blacksburg, Virginia, au ramas uimiti de ceea ce s-a intamplat. Chiar daca nu l-au cunoscut pe profesorul Liviu Librescu, unii dintre ei au inceput sa intre in contact dupa evenimente, socati de tragedie. Alexandru Papoiu locuieste la 90 de minute de mers cu masina de Blacksburg. El a inceput sa-i caute pe romanii din zona prin internet, dupa ce a aflat ce s-a intamplat. „Sunt consternat! Sunt afectat ca un profesor de origine romana a cazut intr-un asemenea incident. Pe strada am aflat ce se petrece, pentru ca autoritatile sunt foarte precaute la ce informatii dau. Ce sa va mai spun, oamenii sunt siderati", povesteste Alexandru. Marius Popescu, doctorand la universitate, se indrepta spre campus in momentul atacului. „Eu am ajuns cu masina pe langa campus la ora 12.30. De fapt, nici nu am putut sa intru, ca strazile erau blocate. Nu stiam ce se petrece. Abia apoi am aflat. Toata lumea de aici e in soc si nimeni nu intelege cum de s-a putut intampla asa ceva", spune el. „Anul asta scolar a fost foarte ciudat" Acum, universitatea este inchisa, campusul este gol. „Lucrul este atat de surprinzator. Orasul asta e foarte mic si linistit. Majoritatea oamenilor de aici lucreaza la universitate", arata Marius Popescu. Pana la momentul tragediei, unul dintre atuurile Universitatii din Virginia era tocmai linistea ce domnea aici. Oficialii institutiei foloseau asta ca sa atraga candidati. „Numai ca anul asta scolar a fost foarte ciudat. Au fost mai multe atacuri prin tara. Nu sunt eu foarte familiar cu metodele de consiliere in universitatile americane, dar stiu ca ei se preocupa cu asta, au un centru pentru cei cu probleme si care au nevoie de sfaturi", arata Marius Popescu. Romanca Denisa O. se afla in campus in momentul atacului, intr-un corp opus celor in care s-a tras. A apucat sa vada cum vin ambulantele si politia. Spune ca va participa la marsul ce va avea loc in amintirea celor care si-au pierdut viata. „Eu nu cunosc pe nimeni din comunitatea romaneasca de aici. Dar faptul ca un profesor roman si-a pierdut viata este cu atat mai socant", spune ea. (Andrei Udisteanu) Marturii Cosmar trait cu ochii deschisi Sub efectul socului si al durerii de a-si fi vazut colegii omorati cu sange rece sub ochii lor, unii supravietuitori au mai avut puterea sa relateze presei cosmarul prin care au trecut. (Livia Cimpoeru) „Toti s-au aruncat la podea cand a inceput sa traga. Atacatorul era foarte serios si avea o mina calma." (Richard Mallalieu) „A avansat un metru si a inceput sa traga. Avea un aer foarte hotarat si a reusit sa-i impuste aproape pe toti. Eu am scapat pre-facandu-ma ca sunt moarta. Am vazut gloantele cum intra in trupuri. Era sange peste tot. Unii lesinasera, probabil din cauza socului sau de durere. Am fost una dintre cei doar patru care au scapat." (Erin Sheehan) „In prima instanta, nu ne-am dat seama ce se intampla, se auzeau ca zgomotele de la lucrarile de constructii. Apoi am auzit o succesiune de focuri, probabil vreo 50 in total. La un moment dat am auzit tipetele celor care fugeau si ni s-a facut frica, intrebandu-ne ce se intampla. Am asteptat infricosati, cu gandul ca o sa ajunga si la noi." (Tiffany Ottey) Filmul evenimentelor Studentii, coordonati prin e-mail ora 7.15, ora locala: politia este chemata la West Ambler Johnston Hall, un camin din campusul de la Virginia Tech. Un barbat si o femeie fusesera impuscati mortal ora 7.30: doi raniti sunt transportati la Spitalul regional Montgomery ora 8.00: ora de incepere a cursurilor. Crezand ca atacatorul a parasit campusul, politia decide sa trateze evenimentul ca pe un incident izolat ora 9.26: administratia anunta studentii prin e-mail ca in incinta institutiei s-au tras focuri de arma si ii avertizeaza sa fie prudenti ora 9.30: studenti prezenti in cladirea Noris Hall suna la politie, anuntand ca s-a tras din nou. Un necunoscut intra din clasa in clasa, ucigand 30 de persoane, dupa care se sinucide ora 10.16: administratia trimite un e-mail prin care anunta ca toate cursurile au fost suspendate si cere studentilor din campus sa se incuie in camere ora 12.15: rectorul universitatii, Charles Steger, anunta intr-o conferinta de presa ca bilantul depaseste 20 de morti. Ulterior, numarul creste la 33 de morti, inclusiv atacatorul. Ancheta Autorul macelului, un student coreean Politia Universitatii Virginia Tech a anuntat, ieri, ca barbatul care a comis masacrul era un student sud-coreean, in varsta de 23 de ani, pe nume Cho Seung-Hui. Acesta avea statut de rezident permanent pe teritoriul american si era student in ultimul an la Facultatea de Limba si Literatura Engleza. Declaratia politiei a venit la scurt timp dupa ce rectorul universitatii, Charles Steger, a afirmat ca atacatorul era un student de orgine asiatica si locuia in campusul universitar. Potrivit CNN, Cho era un singuratic si, din acest motiv, autoritatile au gasit cu greu informatii despre el. Politia a anuntat ca rezultatele de la laborator au aratat ca una dintre cele doua arme gasite la Norris Hall a fost utilizata in ambele atacuri. Potrivit presei, este vorba despre un singur asasin, care dorea sa se razbune din pricina unui esec amoros. El a intrat inarmat in camera fostei sale iubite din caminul West Ambler Johnston Hall, care era in compania noului sau prieten - Ryan Clark, impuscandu-i mortal pe cei doi. (Andreea Romanovschi) Record trist Cel mai sangeros masacru din SUA Masacrul de la Virginia Tech este de departe cel mai sangeros din istoria SUA, plasandu-se pe un infam loc doi la scara mondiala. In 1996, un dezechilibrat mintal a deschis foc asupra trecatorilor din statiunea turistica Port Arthur, pe insula australiana Tasmania, ucigand 35 de oameni. Alte 34 de persoane au fost ranite. Cu 10 ani mai devreme, un alt dezechilibrat mintal a impuscat si a injunghiat mortal 29 de oameni, in capitala columbiana Bogota. In 1991, americanul George Hen-nard a intrat cu camioneta intr-un restaurant din Killeen (Texas), deschizand foc asupra mesenilor cu doua pistoale. A omorat 23 de oameni, dupa care s-a sinucis. Reactii Stupoare si revolta Presedintele american George W. Bush a ordonat, ieri, arborarea drapelelor in berna pana duminica seara. In calitate de reprezentanti ai intregii natiuni americane, seful Casei Albe si sotia sa, Laura, au participat, ieri, la Blacksburg, la comemorarea victimelor carnagiului. Studentii de la Virginia Tech sunt revoltati si nu pot sa inteleaga cum a putut fi comis un masacru de asemenea proportii. Unii dintre ei spun ca administratia institutiei scolare ia masuri tardive. Multi s-au plans ca nu au fost avertizati in timp util cu privire la primul incident petrecut in campus, primul e-mail fiind trimis abia la doua ore dupa atac. Un sud-coreean furios Biletul ucigasului: „Voi m-ati impins sa fac asta" Politia Universitatii Virginia Tech a anuntat ieri ca barbatul care a comis masacrul era un tanar sud-coreean, in varsta de 23 de ani, pe nume Cho Seung-Hui. Acesta avea statut de rezident permanent in SUA si era student in ultimul an la Facultatea de Limba si Literatura Engleza. Cho emigrase in SUA impreuna cu familia pe cand avea 8 ani. Studentul a lasat in camera sa de camin o lunga scrisoare in care isi exprima mania fata de „copiii de bani gata" si fata de desfraul din societatea americana. „Voi m-ati impins sa fac asta", mai scrie el. Politia a stabilit ca Cho Seung-Hui a comis primele doua crime din camin, s-a reintors in camera sa, unde a redactat scrisoarea, a reincarcat armele, dupa care s-a indreptat spre salile de curs. In rucsacul sau a fost gasita chitanta de la achizitionarea, pe 13 aprilie, a unui pistol Glock de 9 mm, alaturi de doua cutite si cutii de cartuse. Celalalt pistol gasit la locul macelului, de calibru 22, a fost cumparat de Cho tot cu cateva zile in urma. (Andreea Romanovschi) -- Sursa Originala:http://www.expres.ro/article.php?artid=301055
Eroul de la sala 204, comemorat la New York
Corespondenta din SUA O comunitate indurerata si-a luat ramas bun de la unul dintre membrii sai, ucis in masacrul de la Universitatea Virginia Tech. Profesorul Liviu Librescu, cel care si-a dat viata pentru a-si salva studentii, a avut parte de o ceremonie emotionanta la New York, unde trupul sau a fost adus inainte de a ajunge in Israel. Zeci de membri ai comunitatilor de evrei ortodocsi si hasidici au participat la ceremonia funerara care a avut loc la capela "Shomrei Hachomos" din Brooklyn. Liviu Librescu a fost amintit pentru meritele sale ca profesor eminent, dar si ca salvator a zeci de studenti aflati luni la cursul sau de inginerie si carora le-a cerut sa sara pe geam in timp ce el a blocat usa in fata atacatorului. Librescu a fost nimerit de cinci gloante trase de asasin si a murit in sala de curs. "Eroul de la sala 204", cum a fost numit el de presa americana, s-a nascut in Romania si a supravietuit Holocaustului, dupa care a emigrat in Israel. El era profesor la Universitatea Virginia Tech de 20 de ani. Sotia sa, Marlena, ea insasi supravietuitoare a Holocaustului, a participat la ceremonia privata desfasurata in Brooklyn, vorbind de pierderea suferita dar si de abnegatia care-l caracteriza pe profesorul Librescu: "A fost un om muncitor care cerea de la toti dedicatie 100 la suta asa cum facea si el". Intrebata daca a fost surprinsa de gestul profesorului de a tine piept atacatorului, ea a raspuns simplu: "Nu, fiindca acesta era felul lui de a fi", adaugand: " Se lupta pentru ca fiecare sa fie bun, sa aiba un loc de munca, era intotdeauna de ajutor". Doamna Librescu a amintit si de dovezile de afectiune ale studentilor, care continua s-o sune si sa-i transmita mesaje de imbarbatare: "Am primit atatea emailuri si atatea telefoane in care toti spun: "Era ca si tatal meu". Membrii comunitatii evreiesti din New York s-au rugat minute in sir in fata sicriului infasurat intr-un steag negru, exprimandu-si respectul pentru profesorul-erou. Unul dintre participantii la ceremonia din Brooklyn, Michael Lamont, a declarat pentru Hotnews.ro ca a venit sa se roage pentru "acest om bun" caci "indiferent de religia lui, el va ajunge direct in paradis". Conform traditiei evreiesti, trupul profesorului Librescu nu a fost autopsiat, el urmand sa fie ingropat joi in Israel. Liviu Librescu a fost prima victima a masacrului de la Universitatea Virgina Tech al carei trup a fost incredintat familiei. HotNews.ro, Adrian Novac, New York, 19 apr 2007 -- Sursa Originala: http://www.revistapresei.ro/articol_70255-Eroul-de-la-sala-204-comemorat-la-New-York.htm
Cristian Pantazi(cristian.pantazi@hotnews.ro)
Ethnic identities questioned after Virginia Tech
Korean community reacts to blame and guilt following massacre April 24, 2007 By Aram Hur In the aftermath of last week's Virginia Tech massacre, the national Korean-American community has reportedly suffered a backlash similar to that unleashed against Muslims in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, but Asian Americans on campus largely agree that they are being treated with respect and sympathy and credited the media's portrayal of the attack as objective and fair. A number of Facebook groups, such as "Cho Seung-Hui does NOT represent Asians," are continuously amassing new members, while a YouTube post with the words "I belong in Korea" over Cho's face is receiving hundreds of hits per day. While the Virginia Tech shooter, Cho Seung-Hui, was South Korean, other ethnic groups have expressed empathy for Asians in the wake of last week's attack. Ahmed Ashraf '07, vice president of the Muslim Student Awareness Network, said he had similar fears before the identity of the shooter was disclosed. "I know that when I first heard about the Virginia Tech tragedy, I was very, very nervous about the gunman's background," Ashraf said in an email to the Daily. "If a Muslim student were involved in the massacre, it [would have] hit way too close to home." Media coverage of the shootings has drawn an ambiguous reaction from Asian students and faculty members at the University. "This shows that race and ethnicity is still a key source of collective identity in the United States," said Sociology Prof. Gi-Wook Shin. "Non-white ethnic groups and females can be self-conscious and extra careful precisely because they are still minorities in American politics of identity." Others said they were pleased with the focus on Cho's mental state, rather than his ethnicity. "The media has been pretty good at being neutral," said Kenny Kim '08, co-president of the Korean Students Association. "As a member of the Asian-American community, I was inclined to think of the worst possible outcomes, but the discussion has now turned more to Cho's mental health than to his ethnic background." "This, sadly, is not a new crime in America and is not seen in new terms now that the latest perpetrator is of Korean origin," Shin added. "Experts have compared him to the Columbine shooters, saying that he fits the same profile. This is a judgment about mental state and behavior patterns that have nothing to do with race or ethnicity." In South Korea, reaction to the Blacksburg, Va. tragedy brought up deeper, cultural issues. Shortly after the shooter's ethnicity was revealed, the South Korean government and media went into a frenzy, debating whether Cho's actions warranted an official national apology. Such a phenomenon has raised discussion of collective guilt. Yet Kim emphasized the importance of a clear-cut distinction between guilt and shame. "Koreans are a unique race," he said. "We often blur the lines between the nation and the people. Thus when we found out that the shooter was Korean, every Korean felt a bit of shame that one of 'us' committed a horrible act." "However, this is not to say we feel any guilt for what happened," he added. "The act that Cho committed is an isolated event and has no linkage with him being Korean or Korean American." On campus, students and faculty said they have faith in the community's power to overcome the blame and guilt. "This tragedy was not about Korean or Asian Americans, and I am sure the Stanford community is well aware of that," Shin said. "In a sense, Cho himself was a victim and we have social responsibility to make sure that this kind of tragedy won't happen again." Comments on this article: Joe - 4/24/07 Muslims were not the brunt of the 9/11 backlash. Ignorant Americans labelled all brown-skinned US CITIZENS as Muslim, and acted accordingly. East Indians, who are as far away from the middle east as the US is from Brazil, were killed in retaliation. Cabbies, convenience store owners, even an old man sitting on a park bench "had his turban ripped off his head and his face slapped" by two white females. The Korean community can have some solice knowing that Americans will ignorantly take their anger out on Chinese and Japanese CITIZENS of their country. a - 4/24/07 I really don't fear any backlash against the Asian-American community, because Cho's actions do not fit with the stereotype of the quiet, polite Asian. People are always unwilling to throw away their stereotypes, so in this case, the preexisting stereotype will work against a development of hatred against the community. Whereas, if the shooter were Muslim, it would be a disaster for that community. Gary - 4/24/07 Joe, why would Koreans take solice in the reprisal against other members of the Asian community? Next time, try to bring a point to your post. Zangief - 4/24/07 The difference between the Korean response after Cho and the Muslim response after 9/11 is very telling. Korean leaders *rushed* to decry and distance themselves from Cho. Muslim leaders became terrorist apologists. The sad thing is, even moderate Muslim leaders cannot learn from the Korean experience. Because, if a moderate Muslim leader speaks out against fundamentalist Islam, he will almost certainly be assassinated. Joe - 4/24/07 Gary, I guess my point is that if there is a backlash, it will not just affect Koreans, as 9/11 did not just affect Muslims. Thus, fewer Korean-Americans will be terrorized by the caucasian Americans, just as fewer Muslims were (partly because Muslim men do not wear turbans like Osama, and so it's harder to pick them out, and partly becaue Americans want to live in ignorant bliss, believing that they're patriots when they terrorize recent immigrants, ignoring that unless they are Native Americans, they are relatively recent immigrants as well) Wang - 4/24/07 Joe are you suggesting that caucasian americans are now terrorizing Koreans? Give me a break. Koreans feel collective shame becauses if this crime was committed in Korea, Koreans know that they would hunt down any white person and hang them. Just look at how Koreans acted in 2002 when two young girls accidentaly got run over by a "tank". Koreans attacked every foreigner they could get their hands on. Don't start painting koreans as victims of some kind of terrorism in the USA. Joe - 4/24/07 Wang - no, I'm not saying that the whites are terrorizing Koreans. I said *if* there's a backlash, it won't affect just Koreans. Who knows what will happen. Who knows what Koreans would have done if it happened to them at home. I did say, however, that caucasians in the US *are* terrorizing brown-skinned Americans, and that is unjust. Those are the recent immigrants I refered to. East Indians had nothing to do with 9/11, but just because they kinda sorta almost look like arabs, they're walking around with targets on their backs. All I'm saying is that the author shouldn't have said that Muslim-americans faced the backlash after 9/11. That gives undeserved credit to the American people, whose ignorace and hate is causing suffering not just to Muslims, but to anyone who looks remotely similar to them. question.... - 4/24/07 why is it okay to make blanket statements about a certain group acting violently, but not others? do caucasians (or 'americans', as some posters have curiously chosen to use the term interchangeably) need to start facebook groups telling others, 'not all white people are violent bigots'? yes there are some quite ignorant whites who have done horrible things to innocent people, with racism as the primary motivation. however, i would argue that most (or at least a significant enough majority of) whites do not see this the virginia tech massacre in terms of racial identity, and it has been those who are preemptively trying to avoid a backlash that have framed the issue as such (i do not say this to deny the injustices of the certain amount of backlash that has been felt). just as it is wrong to blame koreans or korean culture because of the actions of one person who shared their national identity, it should not be tolerable to make judgments upon all americans (and/or whites) and their culture because of the comparatively few violent bigots who happen to share their ethnic/national identity. yes, there are deep-seated racist tendencies in american culture, discrimination was once the status quo, and racism is still a huge problem that demands everyone's attention. nevertheless, i would argue that many posters have shown the same sort of prejudices that they fear by painting an entire group according to actions of some individuals. this is unnecessary; it would not be thoughtlessly denying the injustices committed upon the victims to show care when naming the aggressors. yes, the effect of some white people being mislabeled as bigots due to blanket statements is a far lesser injustice than members of minority groups experiencing violence as result of racism. this, however, is not a complaint of "reverse-racism"; what i mean is that by casting all members of a group as victims and those of another as the aggressors, many people are reinforcing the social roles of various ethnic groups that lead to prejudice. i'm not demanding that all people who rightly rail against prejudice adopt PC language...i just mean they often are just cementing the 'us vs. them' mentality that buttresses an ideological atmosphere that leads to such injustices. yes, there are historical precedents that lead people to speak in blanket terms...but by allowing their speech to be informed by the past in such a manner, i would argue that they are merely perpetuating it. citizen - 4/25/07 Wang. The case of the 2 girls involved alcohol and reckless driving and the 2 perpetrators got away scot free by an all american jury. It also followed several rapes and violent crimes that were committed by the military (which again went unpunished). No foreigner was killed as a result of the anger. The military folks got the "evil eye" and that's about it. You're way out of line in bringing up these examples. you are just full of hate and want to get something ugly started. -- Original Source: Stanford Daily - April 24, 2007
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A sign posted outside Blacksburg's First Church of God reads: "Thank you to our everyday heroes." Photo taken April 16, 2008, A Day of Remembrance. Photo by Brent Jesiek. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0
EMS director outlines city's disaster-response system By: Evelyn Ratigan Posted: 4/20/07 As the efficiency of the emergency response system at Virginia Tech faces scrutiny, with critics saying the school was slow to notify its members of the attacks in which 32 people were killed on campus Monday, Boston's expert on emergency response systems said the city is prepared for a large-scale disaster. Boston Emergency Medical Services Chief Richard Serino, detailing the city's strategy to a group of about 20 yesterday at Harvard University, said the city is focused on improving communication within departments and with the community. "Everybody has to be involved in all the various parts of this," Serino said. "Communication is a huge issue. You don't want to be exchanging business cards at the scene of the disaster." Serino cited Boston's historic landmarks, dense population and subway system as factors that make the city a top terrorist target. He said the city has been aware of this and has spent more than 25 years revising tactics in case of an emergency. "Emergency preparedness is not something new for us," he said. "It's not just something we've been looking at since 9-11." Serino said the key to emergency preparedness is encouraging partnerships among the city's departments and private businesses, as well as the public services involved in the process. This collaboration has become "institutionalized" from years spent building these relationships, he said. The BEMS constantly works with the Boston police and fire departments, the MBTA and other state and local agencies, he said. In addition, hospitals sharing staff members and enhanced radio communication systems linking state and local agencies coordinate first responders who would otherwise remain disconnected, he added. Serino said high-profile events such as the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and the Boston Marathon are used to practice for emergencies, calling them "planned disasters." Monday's marathon, for example, allowed the BEMS to test its hospital tracking system to notify the families of the more than 500 runners hospitalized for exhaustion. "In an emergency, one of the key things is communication with the injured," he said. "I think that we have to communicate whatever it is to the general public as well." BEMS technicians also coordinate drills, including a recently staged evacuation on the MBTA's Red Line and a larger disaster simulation planned for this fall, he said. Addressing the January bomb scare spurred by suspicious packages used in a Turner Broadcasting advertising campaign gone awry, Serino defended the city's reaction, which some called excessive. "It wasn't just [circuit boards] scattered throughout the city," he said. "There were a lot of things that happened that day that a lot of people don't know." Two devices resembling pipe bombs in Boston and an explosion on a bus in Washington, D.C. the same day had put Boston authorities on high alert, Serino said, adding the city and state agencies' quick and unified reaction proved the emergency response system's effectiveness. Maj. Patti Pettis, a weapons of mass destruction specialist from Atlanta, said she approves of Boston's constant scrutiny of its emergency response plans. "The program will help find where the resources are and where the gaps are," she said. Pettis said the public must understand the city's elaborate emergency response plans to be better prepared in the event of a disaster. "It's up to the local community to be prepared," she said. "[At first], they're going to be on their own." Pettis cited the Virginia Tech shootings as an example of failed communication Boston must avoid, and she said it is vital for first responders to inform the public of emergency situations to put them at ease and avoid mass panic. "Communication makes all the difference," she said. "If everyone works together, you'll leave no gaps." -- Original Source:The Daily Free Press - April 20, 2007
BHE takes a look at campus security By: Kate Davies Posted: 4/20/07 The Board of Higher Education, during its meeting that was previously called to clarify the fine print on Massachusetts's policy toward allowing undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition, said it plans to review universities' security policies in wake of this Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech. Taking time to reflect on the shootings, in which 32 Virginia Tech members were killed by a gunman who then took his own life, Board officials said although universities already have adequate crisis response plans in place, it is important to review such policies and possibly seek more statewide funding for the schools. "We have strong plans in place to secure a safe learning and working environment that we can go to everyday," said Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary Grant. "We always have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best." The BHE announced it will meet in June at the University of Massachusetts with public and private universities and state police to review existing response programs. In a BHE press release yesterday, Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke said the schools' existing plans are extensive. "The Department of State Police review of these plans is designed to ensure that the plans continue to reflect best practice standards," he said. After further work with universities, schools may adopt more high-tech communication methods, including automated voice and text-messaging systems and better counseling services for students, the BHE press release states. When the Board turned to its original agenda, it released a "fact sheet" detailing the fine print of the in-state tuition system as it applies to undocumented immigrants. BHE chairman Aaron Spencer said the fact sheet is meant to clarify two bills filed separately by the Senate and House that would each allow undocumented immigrants to attend state institutions at the same price other state residents pay. Similar bills failed in the Legislature last year. "In an effort to be totally non-partisan and only deal with the facts, we have decided to prepare a questions-and-answers document to provide key information," Spencer said. Though the Board firmly refused to take a stance on the bills, the fact sheet repeatedly stated the state college system can afford to enroll such students. According to the fact sheet, under terms of the bills, undocumented immigrants would be eligible for in-state tuition after completing three or more years of high school in Massachusetts and graduating or attaining the equivalent of a high school diploma. Addressing concerns that the plan would make it more difficult for legal residents to attend college, Spencer said the commonwealth's 29 universities would maintain the same admissions standards. Because undocumented immigrants would still not be eligible for state-funded financial aid, documented residents would not lose state funds. The BHE fact sheet also states there is sufficient space available in Massachusetts's state colleges for additional students. About 400 to 600 additional students would be eligible for in-state tuition at Massachusetts's colleges under the plan, which would generate about $2.5 million for the state, according to statistics from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. The Board's Fiscal Affairs and Administrative Policy Committee also unanimously approved a uniform policy on residency status for state and community colleges that would classify applicants as either residents or nonresidents. "This motion is merely an effort to have a concerted, evenhanded document that applies to everyone," Spencer said. "One thing I am proud of about this document is that it is one step toward operating as a system, and not separate parts." -- Original Source:The Daily Free Press - April 20, 2007
Promotional poster for Yankees vs. Hokies baseball game. Photo by Rachel VanPelt -- Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hokiefacs/2356343318/in/set-72157604217657636/
Faculty trained to refer students of concern to CAPS
By: Johnny Perez Posted: 4/18/07 As the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute awoke to a changed world this morning, new developments emerged about the alleged gunman whose shooting spree claimed 33 lives, including his own. His name was Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech who was majoring in English. And according to Carolyn Rude, the chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English department, some of Seung-Hui's schoolwork prompted officials to refer him to the university's counseling service - though the date and outcome of that action is not known. Though developments about Seung-Hui and his writing are only beginning to come to light, officials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say procedures are already in place that allow staff members to alert Counseling and Psychological Services about any concerns they may have regarding individual students. UNL began taking a closer look at how it handled potentially troubled students, staff or faculty members in 1992, after Arthur McElroy, a former graduate student, walked into Ferguson Hall and attempted to open fire on his classmates with a semi-automatic rifle. The weapon jammed and McElroy was institutionalized. UNL administrators acknowledged the need to do a better job of talking to each other when what CAPS director Bob Portnoy calls "students of concern" are noticed. Portnoy, who has worked at UNL since 1991, said campus-wide efforts from the CAPS office, University Police and the vice chancellor for student affairs have improved lines of communication, but every year concerns appear on his desk about questionable students. "I can't think of a semester where that hasn't happened," he said. "I'm fairly confident we've gotten at least one call every semester." What typically occurs, Portnoy said, is that an instructor will call a CAPS representative with, say, a disturbing essay. The staff member will forward the piece of material that has caused concern and will share his or her thoughts while having it reviewed by a professional. At that point, Portnoy said, CAPS will work with the faculty member to see if he or she is confident enough to approach the student about the material. If the faculty member is "sufficiently frightened" by the idea of meeting the student alone, Portnoy said, CAPS will ask for a plainclothes police officer to stand by while the faculty member meets with a student - but this avenue is rarely utilized. "In most cases, what we recommend is that they share with the student their concerns ... and the issues they're writing about in this essay may go beyond the particular faculty member's area of expertise," he said. From there, the faculty member may choose to walk the student to the CAPS office, or give them referral information - but the office is prepared to handle emergency cases as well, Portnoy said. Joy Ritchie, the chairwoman of UNL's English department, said new faculty members in the department undergo training to deal with a variety of educational issues, including advice on how to respond to a student's writing when problematic issues arise. "One of the pieces of information they get is about the fact that we are not trained professional counselors, and so when we have concerns, we know that we need to refer students to the right professional people," she said. Student privacy is also essential, Ritchie said, and instructors are encouraged to consult with the chair and vice-chair of the department if they have any concerns. Ritchie said she could not remember specific instances of violence or depression that were addressed by faculty members but said University Police and CAPS had always been quick and responsive in dealing with any issues. "I think the university has a lot of systems in place to support students, and that's important," she said. "I never felt that those were inadequate." Portnoy said there was a fine line between seeing a threatening piece as a product of an active imagination or as a sign of a problem. Part of the training of mental health professionals, he said, is to understand the symbolic meaning of communication. "And we tend, at least in these sorts of cases whenever possible, to try and err on the side of conservatism," he said. "Active imaginations shouldn't be discouraged, but occasionally it is a cry for help or an expression of a destructive way of thinking ... we have to evaluate each case on an individual basis." In the end, Portnoy said, the university's efforts to spot students who could be threats to themselves or others are only another method of keeping campus safe - not a catchall system to keep Lincoln from becoming another Blacksburg, Va. "They're capable, but of course there's no absolute safeguard," he said. "It's hard to know how often we've been right." -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 18, 2007
Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>