More than 20 news outlets toured the April 16 shootings site By: Amy L. Kovac (June 14) The cinderblock walls of Norris Hall's second-floor classrooms and hallway are covered with a new coat of cream-colored paint. The classrooms stand bare, save for some newly installed white boards where blackboards previously hung. New doors replaced the ones on classrooms 204, 206, 207 and 211 that Seung-Hui Cho shot through in his violent fit almost two months ago. But if it were not for the dozens of journalists, with their cameras and notepads, roaming the hallway, that second floor might have looked as sterile and uninhabited as any newly renovated building on Virginia Tech's campus. The news media got their first post-April 16 look at this now-infamous building, starting at 10 this morning. Previously, journalists had been blocked from entering Norris. "A horrendous and heinous and horrific crime occurred on our campus and on state property, and I owe it to you as members of the working press to see this," said Larry Hincker, the associate vice president for university relations. "I simply did not want to subject families to images of Norris Hall at that time," he explained. "It was my decision, and I'll take the heat for closing the building at the time." The university has offered each of the families of the victims - the murdered and the injured - the opportunity to tour the building to help in the healing process, Hincker said. So far, 18 families have walked through Norris Hall with university police escorts. The building, where 30 of the 32 people were killed by Cho on April 16, houses several laboratories used by various engineering departments and will reopen to faculty, staff and students Monday. Three of those labs, including the university's only machine shop, were part of the media tour. "Not being able to get in the building has basically shut down what many researchers on campus used," said David Simmons, the supervisor of the machine shop. "It was a big hindrance to not have it open. These students have been begging to get back in here." The machine shop, which is also used by researchers at the Corporate Research Center, is the site where law enforcement officers entered Norris Hall on April 16. Cho had chained other entrances shut but not the doors to the shop. Officers shot through a lock on the shop's large doors and went up the stairs on the northwest side of the building. A 4-inch by 4-inch wooden block now covers that lock. The four affected classrooms and the other general-use classrooms in the building will be converted into rooms for other uses by the Engineering Science and Mechanics department. See Big Lick U article: Tech's Norris Hall to begin phased reoccupation None of the classrooms on the second floor are marked with room numbers anymore. Neither do they contain any desks or chairs or any other furniture besides the white boards. The hallways on the second floor are also bare, in stark contrast to the first floor, where bulletin boards are covered with colorful flyers placed there before the shootings. One of them publicized an April 18 vigil for a National Day of Silence for those "who are forced into silence by violence and fear." The renovations to Norris thus far have cost approximately $400,000, Hincker said, and included emergency clean-up and general remediation, such as asbestos removal. The two wings of Norris Hall, named for a former dean of Tech's school of engineering, were built in the early 1960s and together cost $907,000. -- Original Source: Big Lick U - June 14, 2007
Chris Winston <Chris.Winston@biglicku.com>
MOURNING: At the official UC Irvine vigil for Virginia Tech administrators offered support to students. By Anam Siddiq Staff Writer In a vigil hosted by the Cross Cultural Center and UC Irvine Student Affairs, candles were passed out to hundreds of students, faculty and friends who had gathered on April 23 to give a final salute to all those killed and injured at the hands of one unstable man. Exactly one week earlier, the sun rose in Blacksburg, Virg. on a truly unfortunate scene. By the next week, the tragic events that had occurred at Virginia Polytechnic Institute were common knowledge, and although students across the campus had already held numerous vigils, UCI felt compelled to officially honor the victims in a formal ceremony. The event, advertised by the CCC, was also publicized by e-mails sent by Chancellor Michael Drake and included speakers from UCI administration, including Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez and Dean of Students Sally Peterson. Irvine Mayor Beth Krom and Orange County Human Relations Representative Ken Inouye were also asked to speak at the vigil, as well as two student representatives, ASUCI President Stephanie Johnson and Korean American Student Association Rep Rheela Kim. At 6:45 p.m., student musician Andrew Heringer began the ceremony with penetrating music played on his acoustic guitar. At the end an uncommonly serene silence befell Ring Road as the chattering crowd delved into quiet contemplation. Peterson was introduced, and emphasized that the program was one of remembrance. As she listed the names of the victims, the wind rustled through the crowd and blew out the candles. Gomez then read a message from Drake, who was in Washington, and assured the crowd that in the aftermath of this terrible event, the administration would "redouble [its] efforts to confirm the safety of the students and faculty on this campus." Gomez continued, saying that even though Irvine is one of the safest cities in the world, UCI and Virginia Tech shared many similarities, including "stunned sorrow and common grief." He further reminisced upon some of the heroes of the Virginia Tech shootings and requested the crowd to pray for killer Cho Seung-Huis' family who was said to be feeling "helpless, hopeless and lost." Krom expressed her belief that "sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring a community together," and as proof she brought a family who worked for the Kids Who Care Club, a foundation that makes quilts for kids who have undergone major surgeries. The children who made a beautiful quilt with patches for each victim which was going to be sent to the university from the City of Irvine. Inouye verbalized the importance of refraining from letting the actions of a single individual reflect an entire ethnic community, reminding the students that despite everything "today, and for every tomorrow, we are all Americans." After the student speakers had expressed their sympathy for the tragedy and rallied the students to work together as a community, Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Cross Cultural Center Ana Gonzalez related the rest of the week's events, which included emotional distress, relief and open discussions about the Virginia Tech shootings. She also urged everyone present to write on the two boards set up for the students to express their thoughts, sentiments and prayers. By the end of the day, the boards were covered with such things as personal notes from students to artwork by sororities and fraternities. The vigil appropriately ended with Diedre Butler's "In the Arms of an Angel," the most heart-rending part of the entire ceremony. Some people were moved to tears and sought comfort in the arms of friends, while others sat in deep reflection. Blair Hollingsworth, a first-year drama major attending the proceedings, described the entire vigil as "beautiful and well-planned." The deaths of 32 people tragically killed on that terrible day brought a community together. Members of the crowd were drawn closer to each other as a group and all race, ethnicity, gender and religious differences were forgotten as students left their identities as UCI Anteaters and became one with the Virginia Tech students. As Gomez so rightfully put it, "This evening, we are all Hokies in spirit." -- Original Source:New University - April 30, 2007
CULTURA DE VIOLENCIA EN ESTADOS UNIDOS Y EL SISTEMA CAPITALISTA
Publicado por Andercismo Los últimos acontecimientos en Estados Unidos - desagrdables por supuesto - nos trae a tema la cuestion del ¿por qué?. Definitivamente en este país existe una cultura que promueve la violencia pero quizás el tema vaya mucho mas alla y se trate en realidad de un modelo socioeconomico capitalista el verdadero responsable de todo esto. Recordemos primero que Los Estados Unidos constituyen tal vez el único país del mundo donde sus ciudadanos cometen actos de violencia mortal contra profesores, administradores y estudiantes en recintos escolares. Vale empezar aclarando que el estado norteamericano promueva la idea de que las armas y el uso de la violencia son un método para conseguir la libertad. La política armamentista del presidente Bush solo alimenta esta ideologia en una sociedad con un marco de conflicitividad social, pensado esto, no es tan sorprendete el tipo de matanzas que cada cierto tiempo llenan de dolor al pueblo estadounidense. Estados Unidos posee casi un arma por habitante, sumado a esto es necesario destacar los altos niveles de desigualdad social que existe en el país: esto es altos indices de pobreza, de encarcelamiento y de represión. No es el "País de la Libertad como se cree". Este país tiene recogida en la segunda enmienda de su Constitución el derecho de los ciudadanos a portar armas de fuego. La tradición que acoge esta disposición legal crea una espiral diabólica en la que la existencia de delitos promovidos con armas de fuego motiva que las personas caigan en la tentación de disponer de éstas, lo que a su vez promueve su uso. Sin lugar a dudas acontecimientos como los de Virginia Tech y Columbine no seran los mas impresionantes ni los últimos. Estados Unidos es un país que desde el 11-S ha sido victima de una paronoia genralizada y obsesiva con la seguridad, lo cual ha justificado una guerra en la que casi todos los días se reportan tragedias de la misma o mayor magnitud de lo ocurrido hoy en Virginia, resulta contradictorio con la política Bush que la mayor amenaza a la seguridad nacional no sea el terrorismo o los regimenes islamicos sino su propia población y millones de armas que circulan libremente. El gobierno norteamericano gasta miles de millones de dólares de su presupuesto para el Departamento de Seguridad Interna, a pesar de ello y de los códigos de color para alertas de amenazas a la seguridad nacional, hay muy poca regulación y es muy limitado y a veces nulo, el control de las aproximadamente 200 millones de armas de fuego en manos privadas en este país, suficientes para armar a cada hombre y mujer en este país. No hay un registro preciso de armas de fuego en manos de civiles en los Estados Unidos. Se calcula que son más de doscientos millones de pistolas, revólveres, rifles y armas de guerra que, en la mayoría de los estados, pueden ser adquiridas con un ligero trámite en el que no tener antecedentes penales es la única condición exigida por las autoridades para ejercer el derecho constitucional a poseer un arma. Según cifras oficiales del Centro Federal de Control de Enfermedades, en los últimos cinco años (las cifras más recientes son de 2004), más de 148 mil personas han muerto por una arma de fuego en Estados Unidos, de éstos, 14 mil 500 son menores de edad. En un año murieron 29 mil 569 personas a causa de armas de fuego, un promedio de 81 personas por día o una persona asesinada cada 18 minutos, reporta la organización Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, con cálculos hechos con información oficial. De acuerdo con el Brady Campaign, se calcula que 39 por ciento de los hogares en Estados Unidos tiene una arma de fuego. Se registran ventas de entre 3 a 4 millones de armas de fuego al año, y se calcula que entre uno y tres millones adicionales se intercambian en mercados secundarios. Los heridos por bala sumaron 69 mil 825 en 2005; más de 191 al día. Una investigación de los costos económicos directos e indirectos de la violencia con armas de fuego en Estados Unidos se calculó en 100 mil millones al año, informó el Brady Campaign. Sin embargo y a pesar de tener una lamentable tradición de matanzas como las de Columbine, y varios más que se han registrado desde entonces, incluyendo recientemente la muerte de cinco niñas en la escuela rural de Amish, no se ha promovido en un mayor control de armas. De hecho, organizaciones que se dedican a promover leyes de control informan que la mayoría de los estados no requiere que los dueños de armas tengan licencia o que sean registradas y miles de armas son compradas en ferias sin verificación del historial criminal del comprador, mientras que los bancos de datos sobre criminales no son actualizados, permitiendo que delincuentes obtengan armas fácilmente. Peor aun, la agrupación New Yorkers Against Gun Violence recordó que "desde la tragedia de Columbine, es ahora más fácil obtener armas", y detalla cómo gobiernos estatales han promulgado leyes que minan esfuerzos para controlar las armas. Además, acusa que el Departamento de Justicia ha promovido medidas que hacen más difícil detectar quién está comprando armas, mientras que el Congreso ha promulgado medidas que en los hechos facilitan el tráfico ilegal. La falta de un control de armas de fuego ha sido un triunfo de poderosas agrupaciones de cabildeo, en particular la Asociación Nacional del Rifle (NRA), que ha convertido el derecho a portar armas en una misión sagrada y patriótica. A pesar de que esta demostrado que la interrelación entre los parámetros de delitos violentos, número de presos, aplicación de la pena de muerte y permiso para comprar armas forman un entramado que retroalimenta a una de las sociedades más violentas del mundo, los dirigentes políticos siguen sin tomar posiciones frente a la libertad de venta de armas y de su uso restringido porque entienden que es una costumbre tan arraigada en los Estados Unidos que enfrentarse a ella tendría negativas influencias electorales. Estados Unidos es una mixtura de una de las sociedades más avanzadas con algunos lastres arcaicos que determinan que la dureza de la ley, la violencia y una de las poblaciones reclusas proporcionalmente más grande nos inviten a dudar de la solidez de ese sistema de vida. Fuente Original: http://andercismo.blogspot.com/2007/04/cultura-de-violencia-en-estados-unidos.html Derechos Reservados: Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirDerivadasIgual 2.5 Argentina
Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirDerivadasIgual 2.5 Argentina
Professor who died in tragedy worked at UNC
Christopher James Bishop, known as Jamie in his five years at UNC, was killed Monday in the tragedy that left 33 dead on the campus of Virginia Tech. He was 35. Bishop worked as an academic technology liaison at UNC from 2000 until 2005 with the Office of Arts & Sciences Information Services. He also taught an intermediate German course in 2004. He left UNC to become an adjunct instructor of German and a technology trainer with the Faculty Development Institute at Va. Tech. He was leading a class in introductory German at about 9:50 a.m. Monday when the gunman aimed at his head and fired, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. "Jamie's thoughtfulness, energy and laughter made him a wonderful peer and friend to many," his former co-workers said in a collective statement. "His legacy continues to shape the education of thousands of students to this day." Bishop first was hired at UNC as a temporary employee in 2000, his former supervisor, Jason Li, said. Bishop later was hired as a full-time employee, working with instructors in language departments and providing one-on-one training in computer applications. "He was such a motivated, dedicated employee," Li said. Charlie Green, associate vice chancellor for teaching and learning at Information Technology Services, looked back fondly on his time working with Bishop. "He was a creative thinker," Green said. "He was someone who saw technology as a creative tool." One innovation of Bishop's was a way to record students' language practice through laptops. Previously, students had to tape-record their practice and physically bring the tape to their instructor, Green said. Bishop crafted a software package to record and send the practice digitally - which is of much higher quality and much more efficient. But Bishop's value was more than just in his work. "He cared about people," Green said. "He would spend a lot of time making sure people he worked with had everything they needed." Green said this aspect of his personality is reflected in the fact that Bishop was nominated for an Information Technology award - designed to reward versatility and willingness to go beyond the call of duty - each year he was at UNC. Bishop's wife, Stefanie Hofer, earned her Ph.D. in Germanic languages from UNC and later taught with Bishop in the German program at Va. Tech. Bishop was a Fulbright scholar at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, and lived in Heidelberg from 1995 to 1996. He earned his bachelor's and master's in German at the University of Georgia. Bishop was also a prolific artist. He had posted an extensive gallery of photos, multimedia projects, graphic designs for book covers and computer-generated images on his Web site - www.memory39.com. "He was a member of our family," Green said. "He will be deeply missed." -- Original Source: Daily Tar Heel - April 18, 2007
University reps. meet with BPD to discuss prevention By: Andrew FitzGerald Posted: 4/18/07 The day after a Virginia Tech senior shot and killed 32 people on campus and himself, representatives from 19 Boston-area colleges who met at Boston Police Department headquarters said they must improve communication in the future to prevent similar campus attacks. University administrators joined state and local police forces to discuss "protocol, procedure and planning" that goes into preventing campus attacks during a meeting requested by Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, said BPD spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll. Representatives at the meeting said they wanted to ensure the BPD and campus security forces are able to communicate through radio, according to Driscoll, who cited the existing Boston Area Emergency Radio Network -- a link between local campus and police departments -- that received boosted support after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Virginia Tech and college campuses around the country have reacted to Monday's shootings, in which 32 people were killed by Virginia Tech senior Cho Seung-Hui. The 23-year-old English major from South Korea killed two people in a residence hall shortly after 7 a.m., and he killed 30 in a classroom building two hours later a half-mile across campus. Local university administrators also compared methods they use to communicate with students in pressing situations, Driscoll said. Virginia Tech officials have received widespread criticism for not immediately contacting university members after the first shooting. Officials first sent an email to the university about the residence hall shooting at 9:26 a.m., while the gunman was carrying out his second attack. Driscoll said another topic discussed was the importance of "recognizing the tendency of someone who may act in violence." Classmates and professors have described the shooter as someone who was not very sociable, and some professors had referred him for counseling, according to The New York Times. Representatives at yesterday's meeting will form subcommittees to develop campus-specific security plans, which will vary based on school size and relative security, Driscoll said. "The distinction would be that some universities have patrol forces and some do not," she said. "If the security force is unarmed, then what are the steps they should take in an unarmed situation? If the force is armed, then the response should be different." Attending university administrators said they could not provide details on the tools security personnel use to protect their campuses because the information could aid potential attackers. Boston University Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore, who attended the meeting, declined to elaborate on specifics, only repeating Driscoll's summary that they discussed "protocols, training amongst different agencies [and] how students can access information." Harvard University spokesman Joe Wrinn said universities and law enforcement agencies meet regularly to share information. For example, university representatives and police held a similar meeting in October 2004 to plan for potential riots after World Series games, prompted by the accidental shooting death of an Emerson College student celebrating in the streets after the Boston Red Sox won the American League Championship Series. "We occasionally get together with other campuses and campus police," Wrinn said. "We run tabletop exercises and drills." Driscoll said the police forces and university representatives will meet again to further develop prevention techniques, but she did not provide a date. -- Original Source: The Daily Free Press - April 18, 2007
Aug. 28, 2007 The article "Students fight for guns on campus" by Claire St. Amant was amazing. I feel she showed the views of both sides without offending either. With that said, I noticed the editorial "Gun groups gone wrong." This editorial has obviously come from a person who has not adequately researched into concealed handguns and the lawful use of them. Each year over 170,000 crimes are deterred by law abiding, licensed people who use their weapons without firing a single shot. Sometimes it's the mere thought of a weapon being present that can deter the crime. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is not saying that those with concealed handgun licenses should be vigilantes. During our courses, we are taught how to respond not only if we are forced as a last resort to pull the trigger, but also how to react with police officers under any under circumstances. I don't want to give the wrong impression when I say this, but even if Baylor police could afford to employ more officers, they can't always protect us. There was an instance within a year prior of Virginia Tech at Appalachian Law School. A shooter entered into the school and began shooting. Two students who were following the state laws of "no guns on campus" ran to their vehicles and broke the law to save the lives of their fellow students. They apprehended the shooter and waited for police to arrive to arrest the shooter. There was a similar situation in Pennsylvania where a vice principal of a junior high saved his students' lives. A madman entered the school with a shotgun and began shooting; the vice principal ran to his truck to retrieve his pistol. He returned to stop the shooter from injuring any more of his students. Yes, our current system can be improved. In the instance of the Virginia Tech shooter, he was let through a loophole that Virginia had set up. I agree that certain people should not be allowed to own or even touch a firearm. Texas has laws in place that make it a felony. SCCC bases its views off of statistics and reports that we have collected worldwide. Our information proves that allowing law-abiding citizens to carry weapons into areas significantly reduces crime. In the U.S. it deters approximately 15 percent of all crimes and 30 percent of violent crimes. We are asking that our respective states allow the most law-abiding citizens, with a crime rate of less than 0.001 percent, to be allowed to continue defending ourselves. SCCC understands two things among many: one is that "gun -free zones" in America are false comforts that have given us some of our nation's worst tragedies and two, that allowing law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons reduces crimes and equals the playing field. We are not countering against or trying to be a replacement for law enforcement. Those with concealed handgun licenses are a crime deterrent, practicing one of their rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Andrew Sugg Aviation Sciences, 2008 -- Original Source: Baylor University http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=46485
Aug. 28, 2007 The article "Students fight for guns on campus" by Claire St. Amant was amazing. I feel she showed the views of both sides without offending either. With that said, I noticed the editorial "Gun groups gone wrong." This editorial has obviously come from a person who has not adequately researched into concealed handguns and the lawful use of them. Each year over 170,000 crimes are deterred by law abiding, licensed people who use their weapons without firing a single shot. Sometimes it's the mere thought of a weapon being present that can deter the crime. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is not saying that those with concealed handgun licenses should be vigilantes. During our courses, we are taught how to respond not only if we are forced as a last resort to pull the trigger, but also how to react with police officers under any under circumstances. I don't want to give the wrong impression when I say this, but even if Baylor police could afford to employ more officers, they can't always protect us. There was an instance within a year prior of Virginia Tech at Appalachian Law School. A shooter entered into the school and began shooting. Two students who were following the state laws of "no guns on campus" ran to their vehicles and broke the law to save the lives of their fellow students. They apprehended the shooter and waited for police to arrive to arrest the shooter. There was a similar situation in Pennsylvania where a vice principal of a junior high saved his students' lives. A madman entered the school with a shotgun and began shooting; the vice principal ran to his truck to retrieve his pistol. He returned to stop the shooter from injuring any more of his students. Yes, our current system can be improved. In the instance of the Virginia Tech shooter, he was let through a loophole that Virginia had set up. I agree that certain people should not be allowed to own or even touch a firearm. Texas has laws in place that make it a felony. SCCC bases its views off of statistics and reports that we have collected worldwide. Our information proves that allowing law-abiding citizens to carry weapons into areas significantly reduces crime. In the U.S. it deters approximately 15 percent of all crimes and 30 percent of violent crimes. We are asking that our respective states allow the most law-abiding citizens, with a crime rate of less than 0.001 percent, to be allowed to continue defending ourselves. SCCC understands two things among many: one is that "gun -free zones" in America are false comforts that have given us some of our nation's worst tragedies and two, that allowing law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons reduces crimes and equals the playing field. We are not countering against or trying to be a replacement for law enforcement. Those with concealed handgun licenses are a crime deterrent, practicing one of their rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Andrew Sugg Aviation Sciences, 2008 -- Original Source: The Lariat http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=46485
Julie Freeman (Julie_Freeman@baylor.edu)
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
Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
By: Andy Boyle Posted: 4/20/07 A man called in a bomb threat to Othmer Hall around noon Friday, university officials said. Authorities did not find any explosives during an initial search of the building. After being closed for about two hours, the building is now open to students and faculty. At a 3 p.m. press conference, Chancellor Harvey Perlman said Friday's bomb threat was not real. "I do want to observe that several other campuses around the country ... have had similar threats over the course of this week," he said. "And to some extent, unfortunately, these are to be expected when we had a major event like we had at Virginia Tech." University officials said if students feel uncomfortable being on campus Friday, they should leave. Kelly Bartling, a university spokeswoman, said there were no classes Friday at Othmer Hall, Nebraska Hall and Walter Scott Engineering Center, which are all connected, because of an engineering college event. Several hundred people were scheduled to visit the building Friday because of the event, called EWeek. Those events are now canceled. Bartling said a man called the dean's office and told an assistant, "I planted a bomb in the building, you bitch." Othmer Hall contains the Biological Process Development Facility, which researches vaccines for biological warfare agents, according to the facility's Web site, www.pbdf.unl.edu. John Ballard, associate dean of the college of engineering, didn't know if there was a hazard involved because of that. The university has sent out three e-mails notifying students of what's happening. The e-mails suggest students avoid the area. Othmer Hall was the first building to be evacuated, said University Police Chief Owen Yardley. Nebraska Hall and Walter Scott Engineering Center were evacuated about 20 minutes later. The last bomb threat called in to the university was in late September, when a man approached a group of sorority members at the parking garage at 17th and R claiming to have a bomb. Yardley couldn't comment on how the search of Othmer was conducted or what was used in it. He also would not confirm that the caller was a man. Earlier, Bartling told the Daily Nebraskan the caller was a man. "We know it was a phone call that was received by somebody in the department," Yardley said. Police procedure is to attempt traces on the phone call and investigate who is involved, Yardley said. He said the bomb threat would be a felony charge. Perlman said if a student were involved, he would like them to punished as seriously as the university allows. "I would hope that the campus community would take this seriously," he said, "and if anybody hears or sees anything that would help in this investigation, they would notify campus police or Crime Stoppers or provide us with information." University Police can be reached at 472-3555. The Crime Stoppers number is 475-3600. -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 20, 2007
We Need Emergency SMS Broadcasting Tools NOW!
April 16, 2007 It's been a dizzying day taking in the horrible news from Virginia Tech, just a few hours west of DC, with at least 30 people on campus killed by a lone gunman. I spent a good part of the morning running back and forth between NPR's digital media department, the offices of Talk of the Nation, and the central hub space shared by NPR's news team during emergencies. Now that I've had a chance to sit on the train, head back home from work, and think about what happened today, I'm already angered by one bit of news I hadn't considered earlier in the day: that approximately two hours passed between the first shooting incident and the later massacre in the classrooms. During that time, it appears that almost no communications went out, apart from several mass email informing students of a shooting incident earlier in the day. The first email went out just before 9:30am, just after the final shootings began in the classrooms: Subject: Shooting on campus. "A shooting incident occurred at West Amber Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the scene and are investigating. "The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police at 231-6411 "Stay attuned to the http://www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information." This was followed by several other emails: Second email sent at 9:50 a.m.: Subject: PLease stay put "A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows" Third email sent at 10:17 a.m.: Subject: All Classes Canceled; Stay where you are "Virginia Tech has canceled all classes. Those on campus are asked to remain where there are, lock their doors and stay away from windows. Persons off campus are asked not to come to campus." Fourth email sent at 10:53 a.m.: Subject: Second Shooting Reported; Police have one gunman in custody "In addition to an earlier shooting today in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall. "Police and EMS are on the scene. "Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter. "All people in university buildings are required to stay inside until further notice. "All entrances to campus are closed." If the gunman was at large, why on earth wasn't the campus in lock-down mode sooner? Why didn't they have any other form of mass broadcast, apart from the campus-wide email? At minimum, the campus should have had an emergency PA system. I don't care if you want to use shootings or tornados or any other excuse for making the investment, but every campus in America should have a basic PA system for any potential civic emergency. And I know I've said this each time a disaster has happened over the last couple of years, but why the hell don't we have an emergency SMS broadcasting tool that can be used to send warnings to every cell phone in a given area or to a given group? Please don't take this as yet another pitch for people to use Twitter or Jaiku or Mozes, because frankly I don't care what tool people use, as long as it's reliable, easy to manage and secure - and Twitter doesn't exactly meet those needs yet. It's a start, but there's a long way to go. Back during the Boxing Day Tsunami, the Swedish government was able to get the local phone companies to send an SMS broadcast to every one of their subscribers whose phones had recently sent out a signal emanating from Southeast Asia. While they weren't able to do it in time to save lives, it made a major difference in tracking down who survived and who didn't. If they're able to figure out a way to do that, why can't we figure out a way to allow schools and municipalities here in the US to send out emergency SMS broadcasts? There's no way I can know for sure, of course, but I would surmise that almost every student and faculty member injured or killed today had a cell phone on them when they were attacked. Imagine the difference a single text message could have made. We can wait and see if some dot-com company can come up with a tool that could be jury-rigged for such purposes. Or we could get off our asses and make the necessary investments to develop an serious SMS broadcasting tool specifically designed for emergencies, both for warning the public and coordinating first responders. How many more disasters will it take before we do take the necessary action? -andy Posted by acarvin at April 16, 2007 6:33 PM -- Original source: http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2007/04/we_need_emergency_sms_broadcasting_tools.html Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0
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Web site commemorates those lost in Virginia Tech tragedy
Issue Date:Thursday April 26, 2007 Section: HeadLine News Section Angela Moscaritolo, Staff Writer Three West Virginia University journalism students are putting together a memorial Web site for Virginia Tech. Stephen Matthews, Missy Brown and Andy Smith traveled to Virginia Tech last week to cover the tragedy for a Web site to honor the victims. "Our mission is to tell the story of the students that were there," Matthews said. The Web site will focus on the victims and their friends and families. There will be no coverage of the killer as part of the Web site, Matthews said. The night before their drive to Virginia Tech, Matthews and Brown searched the Internet for contacts. Matthews heard back from the best friend of victim Ross Alameddine. "I've honestly never heard someone's voice who was so disturbed," Matthews said. When they got to the Virginia Tech campus, Matthews, Brown and Smith were met with a flood of other media. They saw stations covering the tragedy from Spain, Russia, Canada and more, Matthews said. On campus there were "hundreds upon hundreds" of flowers and signatures filling large white poster boards, Brown said. Also, no one ever spoke above a whisper, Matthews added. They saw inspirational messages sent from other colleges, such as New York University and Auburn University. "That just shows that it's affected all schools," said Matthews. The three students took audio and video recordings along with still photography for the multimedia Web site. Matthews, Brown and Smith are aiming to complete the Web site by May 13 but because of finals, the deadline for the project may get pushed back. Through their experience at Virginia Tech, Matthews, Brown and Smith said they learned real-world lessons about journalism. Smith was shooting photographs of the campus and came across Virginia Tech students crying in front of Norris Hall. He made an ethical decision not to take photos of the students. "The last thing they needed was a guy sticking a camera in their face," Smith said. -- Photo By: Andy Smith Original Source: The Daily Athenaeum http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=27796
Angela Moscaritolo (Author)/Andy Smith (Photo)
Alum receives probation for 'maliciously conveying false information'
By Anita Pere Staff writer Baylor alumnus David Paul Cunningham, who in May threatened to destroy various buildings on Baylor's main campus, received three years of probation Thursday in a U.S. district court. According to his attorney, Vik Deivanayagam, Cunningham, 34, was able to avoid prison time due to mental instability stemming from a serious head injury incurred while playing rugby at Baylor. Cunningham faced a total of 20 years in prison for two felony counts of "maliciously conveying false information." On May 1, Cunningham called a Baylor switchboard operator and told her he planned to place diesel drums in the basements of every building at Baylor, according to court records. Cunningham said he would take this action in response to his perceived involvement of Baylor in the Virginia Tech shootings. The Baylor Police Department was able to trace the call to a hotel room in Tyler, Cunningham's hometown. The next day, Cunningham called Baylor Police Chief Jim Doak, threatening bodily harm. Again, he mentioned the Virginia Tech incident. The call was traced to the same hotel room. The Tyler Police Department arrested Cunningham later that day. "The justice system worked as it is supposed to," Doak said of the sentencing. According to an article appearing in the Waco Tribune-Herald, Deivanayagam was able to convince U.S. District Judge Walter J. Smith Jr. that Cunningham did not grasp the levity of these threats and did not plan on carrying them out. Deivanayagam said Cunningham was more or less "blowing off some steam." Also in the article, Cunningham apologized to Judge Smith and said, "I just don't have a lot of tact in dealing with police enforcement." Cunningham wrapped up his court statement by saying he wanted to see the elephants at the zoo in Tyler. According to Baylor Lariat archives, Cunningham was kneed in the head during a scrimmage against the University of Texas in 1995. Cunningham suffered a concussion, a broken nose and a skull fracture. He missed two weeks of school and his injuries required cosmetic surgery. Cunningham graduated the next spring with a degree in engineering. He was expelled for undisclosed reasons as a graduate student in 2001 -- Original Source: The Lariat http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=47982
Va. Tech Shooting: Privacy Laws Are Inhibiting Gun Control Legislation
Ann Clemmons May 03, 2007 Cho Seung-Hui a tormented young man, already exhibiting crazed behavior, ignored the advice of a teacher, slipped through a mental health care facility, conned campus police, and bought two firearms. Teachers, students, and law enforcement personnel were not able to prevent this tragic event. It seems many people, agencies, and family members were aware of the fact that Cho Seung was "troubled" however, due to the so-called protection of privacy laws; they were unable to help him. Privacy laws are inhibiting gun control legislation. There is now a bill before congress promoting states to report mental health records to the national database used to conduct background checks on people buying guns. Already federal law prohibits anyone involuntarily admitted as a "mental defective" from purchasing a firearm. However, only twenty-two states provide mental health records to the National Criminal Background Check System. At present, the National Criminal Background Check System, screens people before they can purchase a firearm. However, if states are not required to push mental health care facilities to provide mental health records, for all persons including voluntary commitments, what good is the law doing anyone? This problem has been going on for years, and gun control advocates, special interest groups, and law enforcement officials have been trying to shed light on the this unpredictable reporting. However, the biggest obstacle has been the privacy law in relation to mental health care records. Evidently, if you are voluntarily committed to a mental health care facility, privacy laws prohibit the facility from reporting your time there. If Virginia, had required mental health care facilities, to report voluntary records to the National Criminal Background Check, the people who died that day at Va. Tech., would still be alive. Cho Seung-Hui would not have been able to purchase the two firearms that killed thirty-three people, including him. Meaning, Virginia only reported involuntary commitments. Moreover, we do not know for sure when someone approaches the counter in a store, to purchase a firearm, if they have or have not threatened to harm themselves or others. We are in the dark as to whether they have or have not spent time in a mental institution. In the case of Cho Seung-Hui he had voluntarily gone to St Alban's, after his involvement in two prior incidents with the police involving two female students. However, since Virginia did not require mental health care facilities too report voluntary commitments, Cho Seung-Hui was able to purchase two firearms. Therefore, someone who rattled off incoherent babble on a video tape, and then sent it to NBC was able to buy not one, but two guns! In fact, after the shootings police investigators were unable to get information about his mental health status, all due to the privacy act. It is no wonder that Cho Seung Hui shared the same characteristics as other school shooters. Privacy laws prevented these characteristics from becoming available to the proper authorities before the shootings took place. What senseless acts, especially at a time of war, when we are already losing scores of human lives. After Cho Seung gunned down two people, crossed the street into a classroom, bolted the door to keep help out, and fired two firearms into his fellow students, reaction around the world was that of sadness and outrage. Thirty-three students died that day, including Cho Seung Hui. When are we going to wake up? There are American kids across the world battling terrorism, and more are killed right here in our back yard, due to the American people's debate over gun control. Since the first report of this shooting, we have heard urging from other nations on the need for reforming Americas gun control laws, and self -defensive attitude. By not implementing some changes in American policy and culture, we will earn more than the right to bear arms. We will also earn the right to bear unspeakable pain and sorrow, consequences that follow the lack of proper procedures in place to protect our citizens from the improper use of firearms. -- Original Source: Ground Report http://www.groundreport.com/articles.php?id=2833707 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License
[This is a copy of my initial reaction to the media coverage of the VTech shooting, posted on my Wordpress blog. Unfortunately both links are now defunct - I wish I had saved a page of the "godblessvtech" blog, because it was to me a poignant illustration of the possibilities of the Internet for creating and reaffirming community. At the same time, however, I was disgusted by CNN's use of digital media - particularly video - to create what I saw as a voyeuristic experience of the event.] "On the Ethics of Bad News" Posted April 16, 2007 http://zozer319.wordpress.com/ I didn't really hear about this until late tonight, partly because all the people working out around me at the gym with TVs had them on stupid MTV the whole time. Anyway, I just wanted to share with you all two remarkable (for very different reasons) things I found online when doing a search for some overview of the shooting. I send them in particular because they are both temporary postings but say an awful lot: First, a striking example of a good use of the Internet, not only to share information but as a sense of non-physical community. I found this blog (probably just set up today, for this purpose only, so not actually a blog per se) on Wordpress - it's just a list of names and people asking for information on whether the individuals listed are okay. http://godblessvtech.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/hello-world/ Scroll down to read the progression of the information gathering and messages left. Also note the amount of information gleaned from Facebook. Second, a striking example of outright voyeurism disguised as comprehensive journalistic coverage. In browsing CNN's coverage of the story, I was disgusted by the amount of video - not of interviews and re-runs of news stories, but the amount of direct footage of the shootings/events themselves; http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech.shooting/index.html There is no clear line between information and too much information, but that might be close. Thank goodness I wasn't watching CNN today, or I probably would have got pissed off at them a lot sooner than now (not that it's just them... but if they bill themselves as the world's #1 news source I hope it's not too much to ask to hold them to some minimum standard). Anyway, that's all I've got. And get ready to hear about this one for weeks (not from me - from "The Media.") -- Original Source: http://zozer319.wordpress.com/2007/04/
By: Anna Lieth Posted: 4/20/07 Days after the Virginia Tech shooter was identified as a Korean-American male by national media outlets, members of Duke's Asian Students Association gathered Thursday night to discuss the possible backlashes the Asian-American community may endure as a result of the gunman's actions. During the discussion, which was sponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services and ASA, students addressed concerns about how aspects of Asian-American culture may intensify frustrations and pressures with which many students struggle on a daily basis. Senior Kevin Fang, outgoing president of ASA, said the event was intended to give students on campus "an opportunity to process all that is going on." "A lot of Korean students at Virginia Tech have gone home," he said. "Although they know that the shooting had nothing to do with race, they feel that there might be some repercussions." The six students present also discussed the national media's coverage of the incident, questioning their decision to identify the race of Cho Seung-Hui, the shooter, and debating the relevance of this information in attempting to understand the motive for his actions. They discussed whether or not the shooter's actions could be explained through his cultural and social identity, and talked about how situations like the one Cho faced can be prevented. Some students shared experiences about other Asian-American students they knew who experienced pressures and feelings of cultural disconnect which led them to lives of isolation and depression. Gary Glass, senior coordinator for outreach and developmental programming for CAPS, said his objective in helping to organize the discussion was to "provide an arena for things to get voiced that aren't often voiced-at least not in any formal capacity." He added that he saw a variety of reactions expressed during the discussion. "If there are voices that if they were more heard would further enrich the campus, then let's create a space where they can be heard," Glass said. He said CAPS is devoted to supporting discourse with all different types of groups on campus, and that the Virginia Tech shooting presented a need for such discourse. The students, however, pointed to the social stigma many students associate with counseling that may discourage students in need from seeking help. The discussion was not limited to East-Asian students and included South-Asian students as well. Junior Shawn Kwatra, a South-Asian student and incoming co-president of external affairs for Duke Diya, said he felt the topic of the discussion was important not only for East Asians but for all Asians and for international students in general. Feelings of alienation are not only unique to Asian-American students alone but also affect foreign students of all backgrounds, Kwatra said. "There is a cultural difference, and that cultural difference is something that doesn't have to be East Asian," he said. Kwatra added that he felt the forum was a first step on the way to finding solutions that could prevent students from taking a similar path to the one Cho took. "I think the biggest thing we need to do is raise awareness," Kwatra said. He added that it is important for peers to be able to recognize when others are suffering or isolated. -- Original Source: Duke Chronicle - April 20, 2007
200 miles away, Duke students hold vigil, admins offer support By: Anna Lieth Posted: 4/17/07 After violent shootings shook students and administrators on Virginia Tech's campus Monday, members of the Duke community gathered last night to mourn and come to terms with the tragic events of the day. Just 200 miles southeast of Virginia Tech's home in Blacksburg, Va., Duke students said the news sent a shock wave through the campus. For some, the shock was followed by fear for friends and loved ones in Virginia, but for others fear was displaced by disbelief and worry that a similar event could take place at the campus they call home. And for one group of students, the natural response to the news was to pray. About 30 students gathered on the steps of the Duke Chapel for an emotional vigil and prayer session for the victims of the shooting, their respective families and the gunman Monday night. "[The vigil is] not just to console people, but also to know that there is a community that is here to support people and that as a community we need to act together," said sophomore Ashley Dunfee, who attended the event. "We have a root that we act from and that ultimately should be the source of what we do and where we're going." President Richard Brodhead, in a statement released to The Chronicle, recognized the magnitude of the events at Virginia Tech and emphasized efforts the University is making to reach out to members of both the Virginia Tech and Duke communities who were affected by the tragedy. "This is the deadliest campus shooting in United States history and a profoundly sad day for everyone directly affected-and the nation as a whole," Brodhead said. "On behalf of the entire Duke community, I express my condolences to those who are grieving at Virginia Tech. They are enduring a time of unspeakable loss this evening." John Burness, senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, said Brodhead also reached out following news of the event to Charles Steger, Virginia Tech's president, to offer his sympathies. Brodhead said the University is working to provide support for students on Duke's campus who have been personally affected. "Student Affairs is in the process of trying to identify every Duke student with Virginia Tech connections and to make personal contact and to offer counseling," he said. "Our Religious Life staff is also available for counseling and the Duke Chapel will be open as always for those who wish to seek a quiet place to reflect." The Duke Chapel and the Duke Religious Life staff have organized an interfaith prayer vigil to be held on the Chapel steps at 2 p.m. today. "This vigil is a small gesture at being in solidarity with those in Blacksburg," Craig Kocher, assistant dean of the Chapel and director of religious life, wrote in an e-mail to the student body last night. Kocher said the vigil will include a time of silence followed by prayer and a bell toll for each person who died yesterday and will conclude with an open session for students to speak about the experience. Virginia Tech will be hosting a similar event on its campus simultaneously, Kocher said. -- Original Source: Duke Chronicle - April 17, 2007
Artist's Comments To all of the fallen at Virginia Tech, rest in peace. Taken at Michigan State University's candlelight vigil for the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre last week. -- Photo taken Wednesday, April 18. Provided courtesy of Anne Johanna Strasko. Original Source: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53942334/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5.
Permission Contact: Anne Johanna Strasko (straskoa@msu.edu) Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0
By Annie Augustine Friday, April 20, 2007 This weekend, 35 cancer survivors will join nearly 1,000 UCLA students and community members for a 24-hour relay to raise money for the disease. UCLA's Relay For Life is planned to take place in Drake Stadium from Saturday at 1 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Ninety-six teams have signed up, and participants will include UCLA students, students from L.A. high schools and Westwood community members. At UCLA's Relay For Life, the survivors who are attending will walk or run alongside participants. Brittany Maxwell, the mission delivery director for UCLA's Relay For Life, said the relay's opening ceremony will encourage and motivate participants. "A cancer survivor is planning to speak before the relay begins and survivors will walk the first lap around the stadium while all other participants stand inside the track to cheer them on," she said Eric Lam, a first-year mechanical engineering student who started Relay For Life at his high school and is the captain of two UCLA teams this year, said being involved in Relay For Life is a fun way to help a good cause. "At the ceremony you get to meet survivors and it is inspirational to watch them take the first lap," he said. Teams will spend the entire night in Drake Stadium with the goal of keeping one person from each team on the track at all times. The American Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life began because of the efforts of one man. According to the Relay For Life Web site, Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., wanted to increase the income of his local American Cancer Society office. In May of 1985, Klatt spent 24 hours circling a track at the University of Puget Sound, covering more than 83 miles and raising nearly $27,000. The following year, 19 teams took part in the first Relay For Life event and raised nearly $33,000. Now more than 3.5 million people partake in 4,800 Relay For Life events nationwide each year, and in 2006, the UCLA Relay For Life raised over $60,000. According to the Web site, the purpose of Relay For Life is to celebrate cancer survivors, honor those who have lost their lives to the disease, and raise money to help fight it. "I had a couple of chances to participate in high school, but never actually did. I just thought that this would be a good opportunity and the people on my (residence hall) floor encouraged me," said Alex Yang, a first-year undeclared student. Maxwell said each participant is encouraged to raise $100 before Saturday. All participants who raise $100 will be given free food and T-shirts at the relay. Yaoyao Wang, a first-year undeclared student, said she used Facebook to help raise funds. "After fundraising for Dance Marathon, I couldn't ask my parents' friends for more money. I created a Facebook group to get donations from students," she said. Several bands, including Mikey G and Dan from Danville, will be performing at the relay. Maxwell also said there will be a variety of games for teams to participate in throughout the night. Relay For Life will be held at many schools around the country this weekend, including Virginia Tech. In a statement released by Mary Vaughn Smith, the event chair for Relay For Life at Virginia Tech, said the school would hold the event despite Monday's shootings. "We've decided to move forward with the Relay For Life because this is a time when we just want to make sure that this event - with a focus on celebration of life and hope - is available to all those who need it in our community," she said. Many colleges throughout the country have posted encouraging messages on the "Relay For Life at Virginia Tech Forum." -- Original Source:The Daily Bruin - April 20, 2007
By Anonymous The shooting at Virginia Tech serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of a strong campus community, one in which people know and look out for each other. In the wake of this event, it is important that we make sure that all students feel comfortable in our campus community. This opportunity should be seized to reflect on how to foster a greater sense of community, especially in upperclass dorms. There seems to be a presumption that, once out of their residential colleges, upperclassmen are sufficiently acclimatized to college life. While colleges provide students with RCAs who organize study breaks and generally foster a sense of commnity within dorms, upperclassmen are left to their own devices. Though eating clubs provide some measure of support for upperclassmen, nothing exists to promote socialization in upperclass dorms or among the many students who do not choose to join clubs or remain in the residential colleges. Independent work, which puts increased pressure on upperclassmen and often requires them to spend significant time alone, means that community feeling outside of eating clubs often suffers. Some students go through an entire year without meeting all their neighbors. Though social dynamics among students is, in the end, the result of our own behavior, there is room for the administration to provide a helping hand. While the University provides mental health services for those in need, having intermediaries step, similar to RCAs, would greatly stimulate social interactions in upperclass dorms and encourage students with psychological issues not to isolate themselves. This could easily be achieved by expanding the mission — and budget — of dormitory assistants, whose current responsibilities are focused on questions of maintenance and living conditions. These measures are not intended to prevent tragic instances such as those at Virginia Tech. They would, however, encourage interaction in upperclass dorms and foster a greater sense of community. It would encourage people to meet and take an interest in their neighbors, reducing the risk that students who are depressed, or feel particularly lonely, slip through the cracks unnoticed. We share the pain of the Virginia Tech community and hope that from this tragedy, we can all realize the vital role of looking out for the wellbeing of our classmates. -- Original Source: Daily Princetonian - April 20, 2007
Editorial: Absolute campus security impossible, but UM moving in right direction
By:Anonymous Issue date: 4/20/07 As reality sets in after the shock of Monday's terrible shooting at Virginia Tech, another issue has already come up, which we all would do good to address immediately. The issue, of course, is campus security. One can debate for hours whether or not Va. Tech's administration did enough to protect the students that fateful morning, but there is no question students should be protected. College campuses are like their own little world-they are microcosms that, quite simply, operate on their own plane. University students and faculty operate on their own schedules, through their own methods, based on their own values and with their own sets of characters, players, movers and shakers. Considering this, it is easy to forget that college campuses are not actually physically removed from the world and, as such, are at least as vulnerable to the dangers, sorrow and violence that go with it (perhraps even more so, due to their open and accessible nature). Thus, a dilemma: Adding too much security, or restricting movement, would eliminate the openness and warmth of campus grounds, severely detracting from the atmosphere and choking the general freedoms the university environment is supposed to facilitate. At the same time, it was this very openness that helped enable Cho Seung-Hui to not only kill 32 students, and eventually himself, but also to have the time to mail one final message to NBC in between the two shootings. Unfortunately, as much as is done to bolster security, one must come to the realization that there will always be people driven over the edge and this type of crime is, realistically, unpreventable. As long as firearms exist, so will disturbed people who will want to and be able to use them in terrible ways. However, it is possible to minimize the damage caused by these types of shootings in many ways. Thankfully, the university has taken all the necessary steps at this time to reevaluate and update their security plans. One area in particular is commmunications. The importance of communicating with students and others was made starkly clear in Blacksburg Monday and UM should be applauded for looking into every means available to notify students in a crisis situation. Overshadowing most of the other methods is the hope that all students will register their cell phone number on MyUM in order to receive instantaneous alerts, via a recording and hopefully soon by text messaging. But this plan is wholly dependent on the students' participation. The Hurricane would even go so far as to say the university should require students to submit a number, with special exceptions for those without cell phones. A campus-wide PA system would be highly effective, as well, similar to those in the dorms. As the affected and the nation start to heal, it is time to also look forward and do what we can to avert another tragedy of such proportions. It is not an easy task, but the above suggestions are a good start at making our campuses safer, while not compromising -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007