Students speak with a representative from a volunteer organization at the VT-Engage kickoff event on October 16, 2007. -- Photo courtesy of Brian Sewell. Original Source: http://flickr.com/photos/briansewell/1592434888/
Tom Tillar, Vice President for Alumni Relations, speaks at the VT-Engage Kickoff event on October 16, 2007. -- Photo courtesy of Brian Sewell. Original Source: http://flickr.com/photos/briansewell/1591547639/
I decided to try my hand at making a high-res desktop wallpaper with a nice VT logo since i couldn't seem to find anything close to what I wanted. It's made for widescreen, but if you set it to "center" it should look great on any monitor.
Americans Show Understanding Over Koreans' Backlash Worry
By Korea Times Reporters Koreans and Americans appear to have different views on the causes of the Virginia shooting spree as the Korean fear of backlash was overcome by an American outpouring of compassion and help. Koreans, especially those living in America, are still fearful that the recent Virginia Tech tragedy would spawn an anti-Korean backlash but Americans in general have extended their hand of support to Koreans, claiming that this incident had nothing to do with race. Rather, they say, it was the case of a deeply troubled young man. Following the tragedy, readers worldwide sent dozens of letters to The Korea Times to express their views on the massacre. ``Not once has anyone blamed this on Korea, Koreans, or the fact that this troubled young man was of Korean heritage,'' American D. Rittner wrote in an e-mail to The Korea Times. ``It is important for Koreans to realize that Americans do not blame Korea or Korean people for the psychotic crimes of Cho Seung-hui, just because he happened to be Korean. What is surprising to Americans, and regrettable, is that some Koreans actually expect Americans to somehow hate Koreans because of this tragedy. Such a mob-justice `backlash' is in reality abhorrent and unthinkable to us.'' Ryan Rafferty of Burke, told The Korea Times from Virginia. He added that on a national level, most Americans view South Korea with admiration, and consider the Korean people to be close partners. He said many American families or their adopted children are of Korean descent, and the personal bonds between Koreans and people of other backgrounds in America are strong. ``Therefore, for these reasons as well, to anticipate any wide-spread enmity developing toward Korean people in the United States is as unlikely as to expect a person to develop hatred toward his own brothers and sisters,'' he said. Currently more than 90,000 Korean students are studying in America, according to the U.S. Embassy. ``The shooting is quite a tragedy, but I find it equally tragic that the Korean government, and perhaps many of the Korean people, seemingly feel somehow responsible, or connected to this tragedy,'' according to James L.R. Moody in an email to The Korea Times. He said, ``Ultimately, Cho is responsible for his actions, but the fact that he is Korean is in no way indicative of the Korean people. We as Americans can only look at ourselves and shoulder the blame for promoting violence through our movies, television, and gun culture, and our irresponsible lack of any sensible gun control laws.'' Maria Almamater said, `` While I am extremely horrified by what has happened in Virginia, with 32 senseless deaths, I wish to stand by South Korea in this time of distress.'' ``Suppose an American lunatic happens to sneak into Korea and kill someone _ should President George W. Bush apologize? Should Americans be sad? South Koreans, please don't feel sad at all.'' She added that you must find courage. ``Your ruling people need not feel sad or apologize. It is the work of a lunatic who was proven to be mentally unstable. And if at all, it is the U.S. to blame _ this boy was born in Korea, but trained in the United States. What training did he receive then?'' An American living abroad said, `` Although I am horrified by the tragedy, I am also very touched by the outpouring of sympathy and compassion by the Korean people worldwide.'' You have once again proven that Koreans are honorable and humble, he said. D. Rittner added, `` Initially I was surprised to hear that Koreans and Korean-Americans are fearful of a backlash as a result of the tragedy. Not once has anyone blamed this on Korea, Koreans, or the fact that this troubled young man was of Korean heritage.'' ``The actions and motivations of Cho are most definitely not a result of his ethnicity. It is the result of his own personality,'' he added. Americans have been slow to point their finger at Cho's nationality but they have been quick to address his disturbed mental state and the lack of gun laws in the U.S. Deryan H. MaGill, project manager of the Texas-based Dell Computer, said, ``The incident was done by an individual with an emotional disorder. ``I was very sad to find out that the boy was an immigrant but the media here I have watched have not made discriminatory remarks or made reference to terrorism,'' she said from Austin, Texas. She said, `` None of the discussion at work or in our community has been about race following the tragedy. I hope the media coverage you are seeing in Korea isn't prejudice.'' ``I am very sad for Cho's parents and for all the families affected. This is truly a tragedy. You do not owe anyone an apology. We need to pray for healing, peace and for all the families,'' she said The Korean community in America has responded warmly to Americans' outpouring of support. ``Reminded of the treatment toward Arabs in America in the wake of 9/11, I grew fearful that this incident could trigger hate crimes against Koreans in the U.S., and I stayed inside Tuesday following the story as it unfolded on television,'' Kim Se-jong, one of The Korea Times global student reporters said. ``But by watching the news and observing issues brought from this incident, I find the focus isn't much on his identity and nationality. Much of the focus is on the suspect's mental instability, gun control, poor communication between the school faculty and the students,'' she said. The former chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English Department, took Cho out of his writing class, and decided to teach him one-on-one because she was so disturbed by the content of his writings but many argue that school officials didn't do enough to address Cho's struggling mental state. They said the tragedy could have been avoided had people listened to the young man's cry for help. ``The significance of a helping hand cannot be overemphasized. When we are aware of someone who is in distress, we demonstrate compassion by extending ourselves to that person, rather than ignoring the need. And when we allow others to help us when we are in trouble, we ease our own burdens and defuse potentially devastating circumstances,'' Cornell University President David Skorton said. -- Original Source: Korea Times http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=1310&categoryCode=117
Korean Students in US Nervous Over Rumor
Korean Students in US Nervous Over Rumor By Kim Yoo-chul Staff Reporter Tensions have risen in Korean communities in Virginia as rumors and allegations of Koreans being attacked spread. Even a U.S. university sent a letter of assurance to international students after police had confirmed the university shooter was a native of South Korea. ``Friends told me some Koreans who were living Richmond, the state capital, were hit and even Korean-owned stores were robbed,'' Choi Min-jin, 27, told The Korea Times in a telephone interview yesterday from Centreville, VA. She said tensions around Centreville were high as this was where Cho Seung-hui, the shooter lived. ``I am so scared to go outside as hostility against Koreans seems high,'' she added. A student in Virginia Tech said Korean students were hesitating to go to the school's cafeteria for fear of possible retaliation. ``They gather in threes or fours when they go out for lunch or buying something. Some of my friends stayed in their dormitory all day long,'' the student, said on condition of anonymity. Indiana University also advised its international students to report inappropriate behavior on the campus or in the community if it happens, a copy of an assurance letter obtained by the Times shows. ``While we believe it is unlikely that you will experience inappropriate behavior on campus or in the community, I am writing to assure you of our continued concern for your well-being and our commitment to provide you with assistance and support during your time at Indiana University,'' Christopher J. Viers, director of the Office of International Services said in an e-mail to the students. ``The Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) will respond promptly to requests for aid in emergency situations, with officers who are courteous and sensitive to cultural and linguistic differences,'' the letter added. Park Seo-kyoung, a senior of the school said the school's security officers handed out emergency contact numbers to foreign students. yckim@koreatimes.co.kr -- Original Source: Korea Times http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=1211&categoryCode=117
Koreans, Americans Differ Over Collective Guilt
By Kang Hyun-kyung Staff Reporter The latest Virginia massacre has shown that Koreans and Americans tend to handle cases of violence differently. Many Koreans have shown a collective guilt after the killer was found to be of Korean descent. But many Americans have said Koreans have no reason to feel guilty for the killing. ``I understand why some Koreans are feeling a collective guilt, and I think in some context it makes sense. But Korea is not the United States and what makes sense in Korea sometimes doesn't work the same way in the U.S,'' said Thomas Kim, executive director of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI) and professor of Politics & International Relations at Scripps College. In an e-mail interview, the Korean-American political scientist said, ``No white American in the U.S. felt the need to apologize because a white person _ U.S. military veteran Timothy McVeigh _ killed hundreds in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Kim also used as an example the two school girls run over by a U.S. tank in 2002, which stirred civic group activists to organize anti-American rallies in Korea. ``When the two girls were run over by a U.S. tank, Americans did not feel any collective guilt. Americans weren't even aware of it,'' he said. He and many other Korean analysts said Americans viewed it as a pure car accident, which angered Koreans at that time. The misunderstanding came out cultural differences between the two countries. The U.S. Embassy in Korea last week categorized the Virginia incident as a domestic issue for which Koreans do not need to feel any guilt. Washington has shown reluctance over Seoul's plan to dispatch a condolence mission to the United States and to have public offices fly their flags at half-mast. President Roh Moo-hyun expressed his deep condolence for the victims and the family members three times to apologize for the fact that the shooter is an ethnic Korean. In its latest edition, Time Magazine reported that South Koreans' collective sense of regret and guilt has manifested itself since the massacre at Virginia Tech. The magazine said ``The strong tendency of Koreans to perceive the tragedy in terms of Korean nationalism, in which the group trumps the individual'' is behind the unique national sentiment. Kim pointed out, ``There are innocent people who are victimized every day by young men from all different backgrounds, and what they share is having grown up in a society that glorifies violence and allows easy access to guns.'' He added it is time to shift the focus of the issue from ethnicity to finding the structural causes to prevent the reoccurrence of the tragic incident. ``Rather than focus on his race or ethnicity, we need to address why so many troubled young men in the United States feel that violence is their only outlet. Only then can we address the systemic causes of violence in the U.S,'' Kim said. Christine Ahn, fellow at the KPI, said Saturday on the MSNBC Today Show that it has been taboo for Koreans to speak publicly about mental illness. She also pointed out that it has only been in recent years that Americans have begun to discuss the issue openly. hkang@koreatimes.co.kr -- Original Source: Korea Times http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=1539&categoryCode=116