Our Voice

    Thirty-two murdered.
    One suicide.
    Hundreds of unanswered questions.
    This week, speculation surrounds Virginia Tech as many signs prior to the shooting foreshadowed the tragic events.
    The gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, blamed for the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, had previously been accused of stalking two female students and had been taken to a mental health facility in 2005 after his parents worried he might be suicidal. One woman was so concerned with Cho’s calls and e-mails in 2005 that police were called in. The woman declined to press charges and Cho was referred to the university disciplinary system.
    Several students and professors described Cho as a “loner.” Authorities said he left a rambling note raging against women and rich kids. News reports said that Cho, a 23-year-old senior majoring in English, might have been taking medication for depression and that he was becoming increasingly erratic.
    Professors and classmates were alarmed by his class writings — pages filled with twisted, violence-drenched writing. Poet Nikki Giovanni, a professor of Cho’s, said her students were so unnerved by his behavior that some stopped coming to class and she had security check on her room. She eventually had him taken out of her class, saying she would quit if he weren’t removed.
    Lucinda Roy, a co-director of creative writing at Virginia Tech, said she tutored Cho after that and referred him to university counseling.
    If the warning signs were ubiquitous, then why were the necessary actions taken before hand? Furthermore, many Virginia Tech students want to know why it took over two hours for the school to warn them. These questions raise many concerns over whether or not GCSU is prepared for an attack.
    GCSU does have an Emergency Management Plan. On page 29 of the plan, it outlines the procedures students and staff need if an armed assailant were to attack on campus. The plan outlines the basics of how to respond to an attack telling students to exit the area immediately and tell others to flee, find a safe place and call Public Safety.
    They also tell students that can’t leave a building to get in the nearest room, close and lock the door, cover the doors and windows, stay out of view and call Public Safety. 
    While it is assuring to know that GCSU is prepared for such an event, there are other ways to heighten security.
    First, Public Safety should make copies of the Emergency Management Plan and post in every building at GCSU. Many students do not know what to do in a shooting situation and are unaware that such a plan exists.
    Second, a text-messaging system needs to be installed. The first of four e-mail alerts was sent more than two hours after the first 911 calls reporting a shooting at a dorm. Not everyone checks his or her e-mail but almost everyone has or is around someone with a cell phone. At least 35 universities and colleges have such systems.
    Lastly, students and professors need to take actions if they see something suspicious, either in another classmate or situation. The warning signs were there for those at Virginia Tech and nothing was done.
    We need to work together to prevent a future attack. 

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Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 20 2007. Filed under Opinion, Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry