The presidential motorcade arrives at the convocation. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndicken/464093295/in/set-72157600089911912/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 2.0
Permission: Nathan Dicken http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndicken/464093295/in/set-72157600089911912/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 2.0
Police presence surrounds the campus for both security purposes and the visit of President Bush. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndicken/464086824/in/set-72157600089911912/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 2.0
Permission: Nathan Dicken http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndicken/464086824/in/set-72157600089911912/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 2.0
Being in student media, three representatives went to the first press conference to find out what was going on. At this point we thought it was still only one shooting. Larry Hinkler saying that there were over 20 fatalities was by and large the worst moment of my life.
A sign on the door of Virginia Tech's War Memorial Chapel reads: "Please respect the privacy of individuals. No cameras or recording devices beyond this point." Photo taken the afternoon of April 16, 2008, A Day of Remembrance. Photo by Brent Jesiek. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0
By: Alex Sanders Posted: 4/25/07 Once the chaos at Virginia Tech subsided, students began to seek answers. Questions rapidly arose after authorities discovered Cho Seung-Hui was the cause of the tragedy. Of course, one of the first questions was, why did he do it? Immediately after the shooting, the university worked with the authorities, sifting through student interviews and Cho's medical history, to figure out what could have possibly influenced somebody to carry out the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. ABC News reported, "in December 2005 - more than a year before Monday's mass shootings - a district court in Montgomery County, Va., ruled that Cho presented "an imminent danger to self or others." That was the necessary criterion for a detention order, so that Cho ... could be evaluated by a state doctor and ordered to undergo outpatient care." However, while receiving outpatient care, the doctor specifically evaluated him as a threat to himself due to mental illness, and not a threat to others. Because of this, his records were kept confidential and by law, the university didn't have a right to know, and they certainly didn't have the right to pull him out of school. This case provides significant evidence that privacy laws concerning mental illness need to be changed. We will never really know if the Virginia Tech shootings could have been prevented, but if the privacy laws concerning mental illness are altered, it is highly unlikely that a shooting of this nature will occur again. Numerous signs pointed to Cho as a possible danger. He had complaints of stalking and sending threatening messages, thinking suicidal thoughts, and writing violent stories. Granted, the state cannot remove a student from school for being troubled or behaving oddly, but they should at least be allowed to alert the university. Instead of strict privacy laws, counseling centers and state institutions should be able to flag students with suspicious behavior or concerning mental illness symptoms. They do not have to breach confidentiality by explaining symptoms or problems, but they can subtly and vaguely alert the university so that it can keep an eye on the student. This way, the school is safe rather than sorry. In Cho's case, I think confidentiality should have been violated, and I also think it should be violated in the future if necessary. If a few people suspect odd behavior in a student, that may be a cause to alert the university and have them watch the student closely. But in Cho's case, numerous people noticed his odd behavior and almost tangible rage expressed through his macabre writing. Because so many people noticed Cho's behavior, the university should have been alerted of his full symptoms. Although it is a breach of confidentiality, it could have possibly saved 32 lives. Consider the fact Cho committed suicide after the massacre. Once deceased, confidentiality is no longer an issue. Hence, if a student is suspected suicidal or homicidal, confidentiality should most certainly be breached. Privacy should not matter when others' lives are at risk Cho fit the typical profile of someone who is homicidal. His personality was identical to other school shooters. According to CBS News, a study was done after the Columbine massacre showing a pattern in the personalities of the shooters. "Most school attacks come from loners with some kind of grievance," the report said. Many attackers felt bullied or persecuted by others, the study also said. More than half had revenge as a motive." Cho, like the shooters at Columbine, was seeking some sort of revenge. Cho did not make it clear against whom he was seeking revenge, but his writings told of an allegedly fictional pedophilic and homicidal stepfather. In his story, he devoted a paragraph to condemning his stepfather to death. The story reads, "Must kill Dick. Must kill Dick. Dick must die." Although writing is therapeutic, and it is healthy to express pent-up anger through writing, the rage the expressed was nearly palpable; he did not simply show vivid emotions. Additionally, many students do not express such violent thoughts in school assignments. Many write in a journal so they are able to express their thoughts while keeping their emotions private. The expression of Cho's violent thoughts should be seen as a cry for help or a warning rather than a simple worry about emotional problems. If privacy laws are changed, tragic massacres like the one that occurred at Virginia Tech can be prevented. I am not saying that confidentiality laws are pointless, but there are ways state mental institutions and counseling centers can compromise with the university or school. Counselors already warn students that they may have to take action if they suspect suicide or homicide. They should add schools and universities to the list of people alerted to the patient's condition. Even if counselors do not have proof of suicide or homicide, they should have the right to legally disclose suspicions to the university. Many people will not outwardly admit they are suicidal or homicidal, but they may give hints. Because of this, it is much safer for counselors to hedge their bets on suspicions rather than to risk students' lives. Unfortunately, school shootings are becoming ever more common. Because of this, we need an updated privacy policy that simultaneously ensures pubic safety while keeping some form of confidentiality in effect. -- Original Source:The Daily Campus - April 25, 2007
Prof. Newman: Self-image drove Va. Tech shooter
By Sam Fox Krauss Princetonian Staff Writer Students who kill their classmates are motivated by a desire to change their reputation, Wilson School professor Katherine Newman and politics professor Keith Whittington told about 50 students and community members last night at a talk on the Virginia Tech shootings. Newman discussed the social experience of school shooters and the unpredictability of such tragedies, while Whittington related the killings at Virginia Tech to gun control regulation and discussed the potential for changes to concealed weapons permits. The sociology of school shootings Major American school shootings have mostly occurred in obscure rural neighborhoods, Newman said. She likened the school massacres in small towns to the "endemic" violence in big cities. Newman went on to discuss Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hui in the context of three case studies she has done of school shootings since the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. "What all three of these boys were trying to do was changing their image in the eyes of their peers," Newman said. In rural towns, the school is an easy place to make a violent statement, Newman said. She contrasted this with the situation in cities, where young men are more likely to commit violent crimes on the street. Newman found that school gunmen in recent years have professed a desire to surpass the death toll of the Columbine shootings. The same mentality, she said, seems to be true for Cho. Newman discussed several cases of school shootings, all committed by students much younger than Cho. She said that if the children been older, their mental diseases would have been more readily apparent. "There isn't a single rampage incident that wasn't preceded by a string of signals," Newman said. But the signals that future shooters send out are often ambiguous and under the radar of adults, which is why the signs are rarely reported, she said. Classmates of the shooters often do not convey their suspicions to authority figures because they fear being labeled a "rat," Newman said. She described the sense of community in small towns that can lead to reluctance to come forward with damaging information regarding a child. In one example, a neighbor saw a child killing cats in his backyard but did not tell the child's parents. The child went on to kill several students at his middle school. Neighbors may also be suspicious of the motives of the people who come forward with information about their children. Newman noted that the Virginia Tech shootings were different from other school shootings because classmates and professors did come forward with information, and Cho did receive treatment. School shootings and gun control Whittington discussed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which requires federally licensed handgun dealers to run background checks on customers. Cho went through a background check when he purchased a gun from a licensed dealer. Unfortunately, Cho was not in the federal background check system, though a Virginia judge had ruled him to be a danger to himself. "[Cho] should have been included in the database, and [it] should have excluded him," Whittington said. "[Gun control is] not a sufficiently high priority in the state or federal budget," Whittington said. He also noted many problems with background checks, including the high cost of constantly updating databases and difficulties in maintaining consistency across databases. "It's unlikely to thrust forward a major movement ... for rethinking gun control more broadly," Whittington said. He does not foresee a major shift in gun control, but he predicts a debate about concealed weapons permits. The argument for concealed weapons permits is that students may have been able to stop Cho during the shootings. The lecture was organized as a response to the Virginia Tech shootings by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and the USG. -- Original Source: Daily Princetonian - April 24, 2007
Profesorul erou din America a plecat din Focsani
Data: Wednesday, April 18 @ 05:39:57 EDT Topic: sa pastram ce avem mai bun Despre profesorul Liviu Librescu s-a spus ca a fost un adevarat erou. Profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din statul american Virginia, dascalul a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Chiar daca regimul Antonescu i-a trimis tatal in lagarul de exterminare din Transnistria, profesorul Liviu Librescu iubea Romania si vorbea cu placere despre Focsani Profesorul erou din America a plecat din Focsani De Silvia Vrinceanu, 18.04.2007 Profesorul Liviu Librescu, impuscat mortal intr-un amfiteatru al Universitatii Virginia Tech din SUA, este originar din Focsani, unde a trait pina la 14 ani u de asemenea, sotia regretatului profesor este fiica unui stomatolog evreu din Focsani u ambii au supravietuit Holocaustului si au emigrat cu greu in Israel in timpul regimului comunist u in masacrul de luni, de la universitatea americana, au fost omorite 32 de persoane si alte 29 au fost ranite u Ziarul de Vrancea se afla in corespondenta cu renumitul profesor in vederea publicarii unui articol despre opresiunile antisemite din copilaria sa Putini stiu ca masacrul care a ingrozit planeta in cursul zilei de ieri are legatura cu Focsaniul si cu prigoana evreilor care s-a produs in aceasta zona a tarii in timpul Holocaustului. Liviu Librescu, în virsta de 76 de ani, profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Virginia Tech din Statele Unite ale Americii, care a fost ucis in atacul de luni, alaturi de 31 studenti, a copilarit mai multi ani la Focsani, unde tatal sau, un avocat evreu repudiat, a avut domiciliul fortat, in timpul prigoanei antiseminte. La Focsani, unde a urmat cursurile Colegiului Unirea, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cunoscut-o si pe cea care i-a fost alaturi toata viata, sotia sa Marilena. Ambii au fost supravietuitori ai Holocaustului din Romania. Chiar in aceste zile, cind comunitatea evreiasca din toata lumea se pregateste sa comemoreze revolta evreilor din ghetoul de la Varsovia, unul dintre simbolurile de rezistenta si eroism in timpul Holocaustului, reporterii nostri se aflau in corespondenta cu apreciatul profesor univesitar pe tema ororilor din timpul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial. Potrivit studentilor sai, citati de presa internationala, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cazut la datorie, împuscat de un bursier sud- coreean, în momentul în care se pregatea sa înceapa cursul în amfiteatrul universitatii. Stirea despre carnagiu a facut inconjurul planetei si a facut sa curga lacrimi in America, unde profesorul preda si locuia cu sotia, in Israel, unde are doi fii si multi prieteni, dar si in Romania. Despre profesorul Liviu Librescu s-a spus ca a fost un adevarat erou. Profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din statul american Virginia, dascalul a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Chiar daca regimul Antonescu i-a trimis tatal in lagarul de exterminare din Transnistria, profesorul Liviu Librescu iubea Romania si vorbea cu placere despre Focsani, orasul in care a trait mai multi ani si unde venea adesea inainte de razboi pentru a-si vizita bunicii din partea mamei. "Imi face placere intotdeauna sa primesc stiri care imi amintesc de orasul in care am petrecut multi ani, desi au fost ani de suferinta, cind tatii nostri, al meu si al sotiei mele, au avut domiciliul fortat in Focsani. Au fost vremuri foartegrele pentru noi! Tatal meu a fost deportat de aici in Transnistria dupa ce a lucrat o vreme la Soveja, intr-un batalion de munca", ne-a povestit profesorul Liviu Librescu cu putin inainte de tragedia in care avea sa sfirseasca. La Focsani, Liviu Librescu si-a cunoscut si sotia, pe Marilena Semian, fiica unui stomatolog cunoscut in orasul acelor vremi, cu care s-a casatorit in anul 1968. Sotia sa, medic de profesie, a urmat liceul de fete din Focsani, dupa care a absolvit facultatea de medicina. Ulterior si-a urmat sotul in Israel si mai apoi in Blackburg - SUA, unde a primit o bursa. Cei doi au avut impreuna doi fii, Arie si Iosef, de profesie ingineri, care traiesc in Israel. "Munca obligatorie la Focsani" "In anii copilariei, scrie profesorul Liviu Librescu intr-unul din e- mailurile sale, inaintea inceperii razboiului, Focsaniul a constituit pentru mine orasul in care veneam cu parintii sa-mi vizitez bunica, Paulina Finkelstein, mama mamei mele, si de asemeni, familiilesurorilor mamei mele, Ianconescu si Filderman. Impreuna cu parintii mei, Izidor si Mina Librescu, locuiam atunci la Ploiesti. Tatal meu era avocat, dar din motive rasiale, in tot timpul razboiului, a fost radiat din baroul de avocati. Tatal meu a fost dus la lagarul de la Teis. Dupa desfiintarea lagarului, a fost trimis cu domiciliul fortat la Focsani. In 1942, ne-am mutat la Focsani pentru a ne reuni cu tata, dar vremurile potrivnice au facut ca el sa fie trimis la munca obligatorie la Focsani, apoi la Soveja. Dupa Soveja, a fost deportat in Transnistria. Dupa razboi s-a intors cu sanatatea mult subrezita si cu moralul foarte scazut. Tata a reintrat in barou, dar in anul 1948, cind regimul comunist s-a instaurat la putere, a fost din nou radiat pentru motivul ca s-a opus "democratizarii baroului". Au fost ani foarte grei pentru noi", scria profesorul Liviu Librescu. Fortat de comunisti sa demisioneze In ciuda nenumaratelor probleme pe care le-a intimpinat in copilarie, profesorul Liviu Librescu a urmat politehnica la Bucuresti, sectia de aviatie, pe care, dupa cum ne-a spus, a absovit-o in anul 1953. Dupa o cariera prodigioasa, a ajuns un nume in domeniul sau, obtinind zeci de premii si titluri onorifice internationale. Pentru a ajunge in Israel, pe vremea comunismului, a trebuit sa renunte la tot in Romania. "Pentru a putea depune actele de emigrare in Israel a trebuit in anul 1975 sa-mi dau demisia si am fost fortat sa stau trei ani fara lucru", a tinut sa mai spuna profesorul. "In Israel am fost atestat profesor la Tel-Aviv University. In anul 1985 am plecat in «sabatical», la Virginia Polytechnic Institute in U.S.A. De atunci, lucrez aici ca profesor la Engineering Sciens and Mecanics Department. Am desfasurat activitate stiintifica materializata prin trei carti si peste 300 articole aparute in reviste internationale de specialitate", a continuat cel care avea sa fie ucis in timp ce incerca sa tina piept atacatorului care a omorit 32 de persoane si a ranit alte 29 in campusul universitar. Aproape deloc cunoscut in Focsani, profesorulLibrescu este recunoscut in SUA ca fondatorul teoriei si aplicatiilor in domeniul structurilor de tip sandwich. Munca sa de cercetare, dupa cum se arata si in impresionantul sau CV, publicat pe site-ul universitatii, a inclus domeniul aerospatial cu aplicatii NASA. Facea parte din consiliile editoriale ale mai multor publicatii de specialitate si a prezidat numeroase congrese internationale in inginerie mecanica. Invitat la Focsani luna viitoare Apreciatul profesor a fost coleg de scoala la Focsani cu alti evrei cunoscuti, printre care si cu Zvi Ben Dov, fost director al aeroportului din Tel Aviv, actualmente director general al organizatiei A.M.I.R., care are ca scop infiintarea unui muzeu al evreimii romane. Fosti colegi la Colegiul Unirea, cei doi tineau in ultimul timp legatura prin Internet, dat fiind ca Zvi Ben Dov a scris in Israel, in limba ebraica, doua carti despre comunitatea in care s- a nascut si i-a reunit aici pe toti focsanenii israelieni. Liviu Librescu ne-a spus ca de oameni ca Zvi Ben Dov sau Matei Grisaru il leaga amintiri de neuitat din anii de scoala primara. Pentru ca a reintrat in legatura cu prietenii din copilarie, astazi cetateni ai statului Israel, profesorul Liviu Librescu a fost invitat in luna mai sa viziteze Focsaniul, alaturi de cei dornici sa revada locurile copilariei. "Inainte de Paste i-am trimis lui Liviu felicitari si mi-a rapuns cu multa amabilitate. I-am scis ca plecam la Focsani sa ne vizitam orasul copilariei noastre si l-am invitat sa vina cu noi, intr-o excursie de suflet. Liviu mi-a raspuns ca din pacate nu poate sa fie cu noi, pentru ca era implicat in unele proiecte la universitate, desi i-ar fi placut sa revada locurile copilariei. Am vorbit cu prietenii nostri si saptamina viitoare o sa fie adus aici, in Israel, unde va fi inmormintat. Eu am sa fiu acolo", ne-a spus Zvi Ben Dov, "motorul" comunitatii de vrinceni din Israel si cel mai focsanean dintre israelieni, cum a fost numit de cei peste 300 de membri ai comunitatii evreilor plecati din orasul de pe Milcov. Ura violenta, ucis de violenta Profesorul Liviu Librescu ura violenta si dorea sa arate tuturor ororile Holocaustului, in special cele din Romania, unde au fost exterminati peste 500.000 de evrei. Ca o ironie a sortii a cazut prada furiei violentei chiar in timp ce dorea sa ne faca tututor cunoscuta tragedia care a cuprins si meleagurile noastre acum 60 de ani. Fara indoiala, acest carnagiu ne arata ca intelegerea Holocaustului este mai necesara ca oricind, pentru ca astfel de evenimente sa nu se mai repete. In acest context, trebuie spus ca profesorul Liviu Librescu se numara printre cei care au cerut insistent Institutului Yad Vashem din Israel, memorialul dedicat celor sase milioane de evrei omoriti in timpul Holocaustului, decorarea reginei mama Elena cu titlul de "Dreapta intre popoare". Titlul se acorda de catre statul Israel celor care si-au riscat viata pentru salvarea de vieti evreiesti in perioada Holocaustului. Iata ca dupa mai mult de 60 de ani, profesorul Liviu Librescu avea sa-si sacrifice propria viata pentru a-i salva pe studentii sai de la Universitatea Tehnica din Virginia. (Silvia VRINCEANU) Acest articol este trimis de Romania-Israel http://www.romania-israel.com URLul pentru acest articol este: http://www.romania-israel.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1034 -- Sursa Originala: http://www.romania-israel.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1034
Silvia Vrinceanu;silvia@ziaruldevrancea.ro
Profesorul erou din America, plecat din Focsani
De, Silvia Vrinceanu Nichita | 18.04.2007 Profesorul Liviu Librescu, impuscat mortal intr-un amfiteatru al Universitatii Virginia Tech din SUA, este originar din Focsani, unde a trait pina la 14 ani. De asemenea, sotia regretatului profesor este fiica unui stomatolog evreu din Focsani. Ambii au supravietuit Holocaustului si au emigrat cu greu in Israel in timpul regimului comunist. In masacrul de luni, de la universitatea americana, au fost omorite 32 de persoane si alte 29 au fost ranite. Ziarul de Vrancea se afla in corespondenta cu renumitul profesor in vederea publicarii unui articol despre opresiunile antisemite din perioada copilariei sale. Putini stiu ca masacrul care a ingrozit planeta in cursul zilei de ieri are legatura cu Focsaniul si cu prigoana evreilor care s-a produs in aceasta zona a tarii in timpul Holocaustului. Liviu Librescu, în virsta de 76 de ani, profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Virginia Tech din Statele Unite ale Americii, care a fost ucis in atacul de luni, alaturi de 31 studenti, a copilarit mai multi ani la Focsani, unde tatal sau, un avocat evreu repudiat, a avut domiciliul fortat, in timpul prigoanei antiseminte. La Focsani, unde a urmat cursurile Colegiului Unirea, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cunoscut-o si pe cea care i-a fost alaturi toata viata, sotia sa Marilena. Ambii au fost supravietuitori ai Holocaustului din Romania. Chiar in aceste zile, cind comunitatea evreiasca din toata lumea se pregateste sa comemoreze revolta evreilor din ghetoul de la Varsovia, unul dintre simbolurile de rezistenta si eroism in timpul Holocaustului, reporterii nostri se aflau in corespondenta cu apreciatul profesor univesitar pe tema ororilor din timpul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial. Potrivit studentilor sai, citati de presa internationala, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cazut la datorie, împuscat de un bursier sud- coreean, în momentul în care se pregatea sa înceapa cursul în amfiteatrul universitatii. Stirea despre carnagiu a facut inconjurul planetei si a facut sa curga lacrimi in America, unde profesorul preda si locuia cu sotia, in Israel, unde are doi fii si multi prieteni, dar si in Romania. Despre profesorul Liviu Librescu s-a spus ca a fost un adevarat erou. Profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din statul american Virginia, dascalul a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Chiar daca regimul Antonescu i-a trimis tatal in lagarul de exterminare din Transnistria, profesorul Liviu Librescu iubea Romania si vorbea cu placere despre Focsani, orasul in care a trait mai multi ani si unde venea adesea inainte de razboi pentru a-si vizita bunicii din partea mamei. "Imi face placere intotdeauna sa primesc stiri care imi amintesc de orasul in care am petrecut multi ani, desi au fost ani de suferinta, cind tatii nostri, al meu si al sotiei mele, au avut domiciliul fortat in Focsani. Au fost vremuri foartegrele pentru noi! Tatal meu a fost deportat de aici in Transnistria dupa ce a lucrat o vreme la Soveja, intr-un batalion de munca", ne-a povestit profesorul Liviu Librescu cu putin inainte de tragedia in care avea sa sfirseasca. La Focsani, Liviu Librescu si-a cunoscut si sotia, pe Marilena Semian, fiica unui stomatolog cunoscut in orasul acelor vremi, cu care s-a casatorit in anul 1968. Sotia sa, medic de profesie, a urmat liceul de fete din Focsani, dupa care a absolvit facultatea de medicina. Ulterior si-a urmat sotul in Israel si mai apoi in Blackburg - SUA, unde a primit o bursa. Cei doi au avut impreuna doi fii, Arie si Iosef, de profesie ingineri, care traiesc in Israel. "Munca obligatorie la Focsani" "In anii copilariei, scrie profesorul Liviu Librescu intr-unul din e- mailurile sale, inaintea inceperii razboiului, Focsaniul a constituit pentru mine orasul in care veneam cu parintii sa-mi vizitez bunica, Paulina Finkelstein, mama mamei mele, si de asemeni, familiilesurorilor mamei mele, Ianconescu si Filderman. Impreuna cu parintii mei, Izidor si Mina Librescu, locuiam atunci la Ploiesti. Tatal meu era avocat, dar din motive rasiale, in tot timpul razboiului, a fost radiat din baroul de avocati. Tatal meu a fost dus la lagarul de la Teis. Dupa desfiintarea lagarului, a fost trimis cu domiciliul fortat la Focsani. In 1942, ne-am mutat la Focsani pentru a ne reuni cu tata, dar vremurile potrivnice au facut ca el sa fie trimis la munca obligatorie la Focsani, apoi la Soveja. Dupa Soveja, a fost deportat in Transnistria. Dupa razboi s-a intors cu sanatatea mult subrezita si cu moralul foarte scazut. Tata a reintrat in barou, dar in anul 1948, cind regimul comunist s-a instaurat la putere, a fost din nou radiat pentru motivul ca s-a opus "democratizarii baroului". Au fost ani foarte grei pentru noi", scria profesorul Liviu Librescu. Fortat de comunisti sa demisioneze In ciuda nenumaratelor probleme pe care le-a intimpinat in copilarie, profesorul Liviu Librescu a urmat politehnica la Bucuresti, sectia de aviatie, pe care, dupa cum ne-a spus, a absovit-o in anul 1953. Dupa o cariera prodigioasa, a ajuns un nume in domeniul sau, obtinind zeci de premii si titluri onorifice internationale. Pentru a ajunge in Israel, pe vremea comunismului, a trebuit sa renunte la tot in Romania. "Pentru a putea depune actele de emigrare in Israel a trebuit in anul 1975 sa-mi dau demisia si am fost fortat sa stau trei ani fara lucru", a tinut sa mai spuna profesorul. "In Israel am fost atestat profesor la Tel-Aviv University. In anul 1985 am plecat in «sabatical», la Virginia Polytechnic Institute in U.S.A. De atunci, lucrez aici ca profesor la Engineering Sciens and Mecanics Department. Am desfasurat activitate stiintifica materializata prin trei carti si peste 300 articole aparute in reviste internationale de specialitate", a continuat cel care avea sa fie ucis in timp ce incerca sa tina piept atacatorului care a omorit 32 de persoane si a ranit alte 29 in campusul universitar. Aproape deloc cunoscut in Focsani, profesorulLibrescu este recunoscut in SUA ca fondatorul teoriei si aplicatiilor in domeniul structurilor de tip sandwich. Munca sa de cercetare, dupa cum se arata si in impresionantul sau CV, publicat pe site-ul universitatii, a inclus domeniul aerospatial cu aplicatii NASA. Facea parte din consiliile editoriale ale mai multor publicatii de specialitate si a prezidat numeroase congrese internationale in inginerie mecanica. Invitat la Focsani luna viitoare Apreciatul profesor a fost coleg de scoala la Focsani cu alti evrei cunoscuti, printre care si cu Zvi Ben Dov, fost director al aeroportului din Tel Aviv, actualmente director general al organizatiei A.M.I.R., care are ca scop infiintarea unui muzeu al evreimii romane. Fosti colegi la Colegiul Unirea, cei doi tineau in ultimul timp legatura prin Internet, dat fiind ca Zvi Ben Dov a scris in Israel, in limba ebraica, doua carti despre comunitatea in care s-a nascut si i-a reunit aici pe toti focsanenii israelieni. Liviu Librescu ne-a spus ca de oameni ca Zvi Ben Dov sau Matei Grisaru il leaga amintiri de neuitat din anii de scoala primara. Pentru ca a reintrat in legatura cu prietenii din copilarie, astazi cetateni ai statului Israel, profesorul Liviu Librescu a fost invitat in luna mai sa viziteze Focsaniul, alaturi de cei dornici sa revada locurile copilariei. "Inainte de Paste i-am trimis lui Liviu felicitari si mi-a rapuns cu multa amabilitate. I-am scis ca plecam la Focsani sa ne vizitam orasul copilariei noastre si l-am invitat sa vina cu noi, intr-o excursie de suflet. Liviu mi-a raspuns ca din pacate nu poate sa fie cu noi, pentru ca era implicat in unele proiecte la universitate, desi i-ar fi placut sa revada locurile copilariei. Am vorbit cu prietenii nostri si saptamina viitoare o sa fie adus aici, in Israel, unde va fi inmormintat. Eu am sa fiu acolo", ne-a spus Zvi Ben Dov, "motorul" comunitatii de vrinceni din Israel si cel mai focsanean dintre israelieni, cum a fost numit de cei peste 300 de membri ai comunitatii evreilor plecati din orasul de pe Milcov. Ura violenta, ucis de violenta Profesorul Liviu Librescu ura violenta si dorea sa arate tuturor ororile Holocaustului, in special cele din Romania, unde au fost exterminati peste 500.000 de evrei. Ca o ironie a sortii a cazut prada furiei violentei chiar in timp ce dorea sa ne faca tututor cunoscuta tragedia care a cuprins si meleagurile noastre acum 60 de ani. Fara indoiala, acest carnagiu ne arata ca intelegerea Holocaustului este mai necesara ca oricind, pentru ca astfel de evenimente sa nu se mai repete. In acest context, trebuie spus ca profesorul Liviu Librescu se numara printre cei care au cerut insistent Institutului Yad Vashem din Israel, memorialul dedicat celor sase milioane de evrei omoriti in timpul Holocaustului, decorarea reginei mama Elena cu titlul de "Dreapta intre popoare". Titlul se acorda de catre statul Israel celor care si-au riscat viata pentru salvarea de vieti evreiesti in perioada Holocaustului. Iata ca dupa mai mult de 60 de ani, profesorul Liviu Librescu avea sa-si sacrifice propria viata pentru a-i salva pe studentii sai de la Universitatea Tehnica din Virginia. -- Sursa Originala: http://www.ziaruldevrancea.ro/index.php?articol=11768
Silvia Vranceanu (silvia@ziaruldevrancea.ro)
Profesorul-erou LIVIU LIBRESCU a fost ploiestean
Vineri, 20 Aprilie 2007 De ieri, el este Cetatean de Onoare - post mortem, al municipiului Cea mai oribila crima savarsita vreodata intr-un campus universitar din SUA - dupa cum a fost caracterizat atacul armat de la Universitatea Virginia Tech, in urma caruia au fost asasinate 32 de persoane - a adus in prim-planul atentiei opiniei publice mondiale un erou. Numele sau - Liviu Librescu, profesorul care si-a aparat studentii, blocand cu propriul corp, usa de acces criminalului. Strapuns de gloante, ultima lui lectie urma sa fie aceea a curajului, a sacrificiului, a apararii studentilor sai cu propria-i viata. S-a spus despre profesorul erou ca este de origine romana. Cu fireasca emotie aveam sa aflam insa, ca profesorul Librescu este ploiestean. Aici s-a nascut, in 1930, aici a locuit si si-a facut studiile liceale. In memoria si pentru cinstirea jertfei sale, ieri, la Sinagoga din Ploiesti, a avut loc o manifestare omagiala. Aceasta a constat intr-o rugaciune traditionala spusa in limba ebraica si a fost oficiata de Gilu Iuftariu, vicepresedintele comunitatii evreiesti din municipiu, organizatie ce aduna in prezent, aproximativ 100 de membri. "Liviu Librescu s-a nascut la Ploiesti acum 77 de ani dintr-o familie de evrei, a facut studiile la Liceul "Sfintii Petru si Pavel" si a absolvit Institutul Politehnic din Bucuresti in 1953. Profesorul erou era considerat, in lumea academica, drept o somitate; a fost recunoscut ca fondatorul teoriei aplicatiilor in domeniul petrochimiei si, de asemenea, foarte apreciat datorita muncii sale de cercetare in domeniul aerospatial. Din nefericire, profesorul Librescu a fost ucis in incercarea sa de a-si salva studentii de ploaia de gloante", cu aceste cuvinte si-a inceput discursul vicepresedintele comunitatii evreiesti. De asemenea, acesta a mai precizat: "L-am cunoscut pe profesorul Librescu, cu multi ani in urma si chiar am mentinut legatura prin intermediul corespondentei. Intotdeauna a demonstrat un grad de cultura si de bunatate deosebit, nu a uitat niciodata de unde a plecat, drept pentru care a revenit in tara acum cativa ani cu urna cu cenusa a tatalui sau, pentru a-l inhuma in cimitirul din Ploiesti. Gestul sau de sacrificiu demonstreaza o marinimie sufleteasca deosebita, acesta oferindu-ne o ultima lectie de viata". Printre cei prezenti la manifestare s-au mai numarat reprezentanti ai Primariei Municipiului Ploiesti, ai Muzeului de Istorie si Arheologie Prahova, ai Muzeului de Arta Ploiesti etc. *** Ieri, consilierii locali i-au acordat prof.univ.dr. Liviu Librescu, Titlul de Cetatean de Onoare al municipiului Ploiesti, post-mortem. Ana-Maria DRAGOMIR -- Sursa Originala: http://www.ziarulprahova.ro/articol~categorie-cultura~stire-21252~profesorul-erou-liviu-librescu-a-fost-ploiestean~perioada-aprilie-2007.html
Dumitru Carstea, Director al Editurii Prahova (edprahova@asesoft.ro)
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
Program from April 16th Memorial Dedication, August 19, 2007
Front and back of the program for April 16th Memorial Dedication, August 19, 2007. The text on the program reads: "In the hours following the April 16 tragedy, the student-driven volunteer organization Hokies United placed 32 Hokie Stones on the Drillfield. The semi-circle of stones became a place to gather, to mourn, and to reflect, and the poignant display inspired today's memorial. As a community, we dedicate 32 engraved Hokie Stones in honor and in memory of the members of our Hokie family who lost their lives. Hokie Stone has long symbolized the foundation of Virginia Tech. Now, it also symbolizes our relentless spirit, our courage to move forward, and our determination never to forget."
Two guards from the Corps of Cadets stand by a special anniversary candle and wreath at the memorial on 4/16/08, A Day of Remembrance, while photographers capture the scene. Photo by Kevin Cupp. -- Original Source http://flickr.com/photos/kevincupp/2419492915/
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:25:23 -0400 From: Provost@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: Provost Update August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007 Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues: You are probably noticing that the students are moving back to Blacksburg this week. (It is a good time to stay away from Washington Street.) The start of the fall semester is always an exciting time and we will be welcoming over 5,000 freshmen in the great new class of 2011. We will also be welcoming approximately 100 new faculty colleagues across all eight colleges. The first day of class will be a memorable adventure. Many departments and colleges have been busy this week with pre-semester retreats, planning sessions, and orientations. I realize that you are receiving multiple forms of communication about ongoing and new activities. I am going to highlight a few key issues and events recognizing that you have heard or will hear more about each of these items in different ways. 1. The three internal reviews requested by President Steger will be presented soon. James Hyatt chaired the group looking at infrastructure and security; Erv Blythe chaired the group looking at networking; and Jerry Niles chaired the group looking at the relationships among the academic, judicial, counseling, and legal systems. Each group will provide an overview of existing structures and programs and will make recommendations for enhancements. Some of the relevant items have been or are being implemented already (such as VT Alerts), and a comprehensive summary and outline of additional security enhancements was prepared by Executive Vice President James Hyatt. A note of immediate relevance to faculty instructors: the general assignment classrooms are being fitted with hardware that will allow rooms to be locked from the inside with automatic unlocking features when exiting. 2. The dedication ceremony of the memorial on the Drillfield will be held at noon on Sunday. All members of the university and extended community are invited. Faculty and student representatives will provide brief comments. 3. Human Resources and the Cook Counseling Center are coordinating efforts to provide counseling support to faculty, staff, and students next week. There will be two primary sites staffed by trained professionals: a tent on the Drillfield and Squires Student Center. Counselors will be able to travel to other locations as needed. In addition, counselors will be specifically assigned to a few key locations (including Norris Hall). In April, faculty members implemented a plan to invite a faculty colleague to attend class on the first day. The colleague was available to provide collegial support and to be available, if needed, to help with any issues that came up. The college deans' offices are helping to promote and encourage a similar system next week. Last spring we relied on the good judgment of faculty members to decide how best to address and respond to the events of April 16. We will do so again. I anticipate that most students and faculty in the classroom will be eager to focus on what we do best: teaching and learning. CEUT held some sessions for faculty this week and will have follow-up sessions over the next few weeks. Your feedback about your experiences and the experiences of the students will be helpful. 4. You have received advice about media attention early in the week. You are free to talk with the media, but you are under no obligation to do so. Also, you can decide what issues you want to discuss. You have control over who is admitted to your classrooms. 5. The "Concert for Virginia Tech" on Thursday, September 6 is going to have an impact on classes that evening. As of now, we are planning to cancel classes beginning at 5 p.m. so that all faculty, staff, and students may attend the concert if they wish. Unlike the situation with football games, the parking lots are open to regular use and no one will be expected to vacate spaces in specific lots. As provost, I am never thrilled when the regular academic schedule is affected by non-academic events. We are going through an important phase of the healing process and I hope you will embrace the positive features of this unique contribution to the Virginia Tech community. 6. One of the highlights of the academic year will be a special program that brings emphasis to our commitment to the unique responsibilities and opportunities that come from being Virginia's senior land-grant university, as well as highlights the Student Engagement component of our Strategic Plan. The program, which we are calling VT-ENGAGE, is a university-wide initiative that reaffirms our motto, Ut Prosim, by facilitating and leading opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to participate in community service, service learning, and volunteerism. During its inaugural year 2007-2008, VT-ENGAGE will honor the victims of the tragedy of April 16 and the commitment to service they demonstrated within their communities worldwide. A Steering Committee, which includes broad representation of faculty, staff, students, administrators, and community leaders, is working diligently on the planning for VT-ENGAGE. The committee has established a goal of at least 300,000 hours of service/service learning. Each member of the university community will be challenged to commit at least 10 hours during the academic year. We hope that each of you will choose to participate and that you will find creative ways to include the spirit of VT-ENGAGE in your teaching, research, and outreach. A major event will be held on the Drillfield the evening of October 16 to kick-off VT-ENGAGE. Community organizations are being invited to have displays and to sign-up volunteers. The event will be festive and feature stories of how Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff, students, and alumni make a difference in communities around the world. Much more to come. We believe VT-ENGAGE will send another positive message that Virginia Tech is a very special community with a spirit that does indeed prevail. Best wishes for a successful start to the new academic year. Mark McNamee University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:50:15 -0400 From: Provost@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: Provost Update September 10, 2007 Monday, September 10, 2007 Colleagues, On behalf of President Charles Steger, I have convened and will chair an ad hoc task force to develop recommendations for the future use of the seven former classrooms on the second floor front wing of Norris Hall. The task force membership includes faculty, staff, students, and administrators who represent broad university interests and are sensitive to the impact of the April 16 tragedy. The charge to the task force is to seek input regarding potential uses of the specified space in Norris Hall, review proposals, and to make recommendations. The task force is advisory to President Steger as he prepares to finalize a decision about the allocation of space in Norris Hall. The amount of assignable space is approximately 4,500 sq. ft. The remainder of Norris Hall (approximately 35,000 sq. ft.) is occupied by the College of Engineering programs, and includes academic and administrative offices, laboratories, storage and support facilities, and computer rooms. The specified rooms will not be reassigned to their former use, nor will they be a site for a public memorial or museum commemorating the April 16 tragedy. The task force will consider issues of scope, cost, impact, programmic relationships, the strategic plan, long-term vision, access, security, etc. in considering proposals. Because the rooms under consideration are contiguous with the other spaces, the infrastructure issues and potential uses must take the impact on the entire building into account. I am pleased to announce that the task force is accepting pre-proposals at this time (one to two pages with an emphasis on ideas and concepts). We welcome and encourage all ideas and proposals. Fully developed proposals (i.e., architectural renderings, cost estimates, etc.) will be requested selectively after initial reviews. When submitting a pre-proposal, please: * Provide the scope and programmatic relationships of the project; * Include a single contact person and contact information (e-mail, phone, address). Submissions must be postmarked or hand-delivered by September 30, 2007. We have already received a number of informal suggestions and we will contact everyone who has already offered ideas. We will also be sending letters to the families of victims. Fax or e-mail submissions will not be accepted. Please mail submissions to: Office of the Provost Virginia Tech 210 Burruss Hall (0132) Blacksburg, VA 24061 Attention: Norris Hall Task Force Thank you, Mark G. McNamee University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Memorial stone of Julia Kathleen Pryde on 4/16/08. Photo by Brian Sewell. -- Original Source: http://flickr.com/photos/briansewell/2419986890/in/set-72157604577382666/
Public Safety assures senate of campus' safety
By: Sergio Hernandez Posted: 4/20/07 The University Senate adjourned for the academic year yesterday after meeting to address a number of campus-wide issues including a report on NYU's emergency preparedness in the wake of Monday's Virginia Tech University shootings. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Public Safety vice president Jules Martin and emergency management director Jim Kerr delivered a report on emergency preparation and response at NYU, informing the senate of the measures in place to handle campus emergencies. Martin lauded NYU's Office of Public Safety, calling it "second to none" in terms of campus security and emphasizing the importance of strong partnerships with outside agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency or the city's Office of Emergency Management. Kerr's presentation, meanwhile, outlined NYU's "emergency plan," which he said would emphasize the importance of "communication, mobilization and action" when responding to campus emergencies. Following Kerr's presentation, John Lee, a student senator from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, voiced his concern about NYU's safety priorities. Specifically, Lee used the example of Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech student who killed at least 33 people - including himself - in a shooting spree at that campus on Monday. Lee, who cited what he called a lack of community at NYU, said he believed a Virginia Tech situation could also arise at NYU and that the university's plans focused too much on response rather than prevention. GREEN ACTION PLAN Lynne Brown and Alison Leary, co-chairs of NYU's Environmental Sustainability Task Force, delivered a report to the senate on the university's Green Action Plan - the series of environmental-responsibility initiatives it announced last fall. Brown said the Task Force would deliver a full report to the university community by the end of the semester, which would include an update on the university's Sustainability Fund. In February, the Task Force announced it would award funding to certain student- and faculty-proposed projects that would contribute to NYU's greening efforts. The Task Force received 46 proposals, 15 of which a Task Force subcommittee had recommended for funding awards, Brown said. She added that the awards range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars and will be publicly announced in early May. CUOMO INVESTIGATION Cheryl Mills, NYU's senior vice president, general counsel and university secretary, briefed the senate on New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's scrutiny of student lenders and their ties to private colleges. Cuomo's investigation, announced in February, aimed to examine whether universities were receiving kickbacks for listing certain lenders as "preferred lenders." Mills said NYU picks its preferred lenders through a "request for bids" process in which it chooses lenders who offer the lowest rates and the highest coverage for students. Early this month, NYU signed an agreement with the attorney general's office that will require the university to return $1.3 million to Citibank, one of its preferred lenders. Mills said NYU had picked Citibank as a preferred lender because its loans offered the lowest rates and were available to 80 percent of students. Mills also said that Citibank had offered part of its profits to NYU, which the university agreed to take and use for financial aid. Citibank has said it will credit the returned $1.3 million to students' accounts. During the meeting, President John Sexton called Cuomo's investigation "an aggressive exercise of government power" and said NYU's signing of the agreement had nothing to do with wrongdoing, but was because the university was not interested in prolonged litigation. CALENDAR CHANGES The senate also passed a proposal that will add an extra day to the Columbus Day "fall break" beginning in the fall 2008 semester. Proponents of the measure said making Columbus Day a four-day weekend would alleviate stress commonly felt by undergraduates in mid-October. Meanwhile, opponents of the calendar change said they were concerned about its impact on graduate students and whether the extended weekend would really reduce or just postpone the "stress" problem. -- Original Source: Washington Square News - April 20, 2007
Public Safety Takes Over as Card-Swipers
PUBLISHED APRIL 17, 2007 Beginning today and lasting at least through the end of the semester, students will no longer work as card-swipers at the front desks of on-campus residences and Lerner Hall. The change, announced yesterday, came in response to Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech University and is aimed at increasing security. According to Rosemary Keane, assistant vice president for communications in the Division of Student Services, students currently working at those desks will be reassigned and will not become unemployed. Columbia University public safety officers will take their card-swiping jobs. "In response to Virginia Tech, our goal was to make sure that we have uniformed officers in each residence hall and in Lerner for the rest of the semester for added security precautions," Lisa Hogarty, executive vice president for Student and Administrative Services, said last night. One student, who was working at the front desk of Lerner Hall last night and declined to be named for fear of losing her job, said that she felt the move would have little impact on security. "I don't like the idea of turnstiles, anyways," she said, noting that two of the three turnstiles were broken and that anybody can walk through without swiping. "If people really want to get into the building, they'll find a way." In an e-mail sent to Columbia students last night, Hogarty announced that there will be a candlelight vigil at the sundial tonight at 9 p.m. in remembrance of the 33 students who died during the shooting. University Chaplain Jewelnel Davis is scheduled to speak. The University has also extended today's office hours for Counseling and Psychological Services until 11 p.m. today. "The entire Columbia University community mourns the loss of these individuals and we send our prayers and condolences to their friends and families and to all the students, staff and faculty at Virginia Tech," Hogarty wrote in the e-mail. -- Original Source: Columbia Spectator http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/24884
Pundits wrong to blame society's woes on entertainment industry
By: Dave Arey Posted: 4/25/07 Hours after the Virginia Tech shootings, people were already looking for something to blame. Fox News had on lawyer and "school shootings expert" Jack Thompson, an infamous critic of video games. He gave the dubious statement that when looking at most school shootings there was a common thread, that being "the immersion of the perpetrators in incredibly violent entertainment, most notably violent videogames." This was before the killer had even been named. When it was found out that Seung-Hui Cho had little contact with violent videogames, other possible explanations were discussed. In a video sent to NBC, Cho can be seen holding a hammer in a pose reminiscent of the movie "Oldboy." As a result, many began wondering if the killings were influenced by that. In reporting on the story, Jake Coyle of the Associated Press wrote that, "Notorious killers are commonly linked to movies or music." Such an assumption is very dangerous, but sadly, it is also common. It is true that John Lennon's killer read "The Catcher in the Rye." It is also true that Charles Manson loved The Beach Boys and The Beatles. But they were very troubled people who did not need entertainment to inspire their actions. The killings at Virginia Tech have followed a never-ending string of cases where entertainment has been blamed for the actions of an individual. One of the more ludicrous recent examples was Don Imus' comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Ever since, many people in the media have blamed rap music as much as they have blamed Imus himself. Imus started the conversation by mentioning on his show that he was simply repeating the vernacular of rappers. Many others in the media picked up on this. In a column printed April 11, Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star wrote that, "I'm sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat of 50 Cent's or Snoop Dogg's or Young Jeezy's latest ode glorifying nappy-headed pimps and hos." Days later, he was on Oprah. I am not suggesting that violent videogames or rap music should necessarily get a free pass. There is certainly a time to talk about the role each has in society. However, in each of these cases, the people using these situations to advance their own views are opportunistic and wrong. Artists (and yes, I did just call rappers and videogame makers "artists") need to be given room to create. Both rap and violent videogames are representations of the society they come out of - a society prone to violence, racism and sexism. Using the misfortune of others to get on television is no way to make that society better. Dave Arey is a contributing columnist whose columns appear biweekly in The Daily Orange. E-mail him at dwarey@syr.edu. -- Original Source:The Daily Orange - April 25, 2007
By: Anthony Galanos Posted: 4/20/07 The media coverage of the tragedy at Virginia Tech is rewarding insanity and complicating grief. But there are 32 families, and an entire university who are grieving. Not sad, not upset, not disgruntled... but GRIEVING. And how we treat them in this critical period will determine how they cope now and what the legacy of this past week will be for them. Almost as sad as the loss of life is that this American culture acts like it knows not what grieving is. You want to see grieving, find any child 10 years of age or younger and watch them after their dog or cat dies. It is not a profound concept; it does not require a degree in philosophy or theological training. It is a natural process, common to all humanity. Why we ignore it or complicate it, I do not know, but to accent anything at this raw moment but the grief of the people involved is to confuse them-no, is to use them and to make their journey more complicated and more traumatic than it already is. If my 18-year-old daughter were shot and killed in her dorm, and the only way it was described by her college president was as a "domestic situation" because they thought she had dated the shooter, I would be outraged. I would wonder why this man or woman was on TV and not acknowledging my loss. I would wonder why a famous news anchor is blaming him for police matters (my assumption is that most college presidents know little, if anything, about police work) when I just lost my daughter. And, if the task of losing my child were not difficult enough, then I would have to cope with the media, stating without any evidence whatsoever, that perhaps my daughter's life "could have been spared". Now, and forever, that "what if" question would dominate me. It was not random or the product of psychosis. It was someone's fault, or so say the pundits. What would have been a normal grieving process, is now complicated. I was not afraid to grieve, but my grieving may have no end point. As a clinician, let me pronounce, just like the talking heads on TV, that you have no right to comment on my loss. Indeed, unless you have every fact available, know without doubt how and why it happened or I abdicate it to you... you have no right to judge or comment on my loss. That right does not belong to Matt Lauer or NBC or my priest. It belongs to me and my family. She was ours, not yours. Neither your camera, your microphone or your best intentions allow you to take this moment from us. We teach doctors in training how to deliver "bad news." We have learned that such moments belong to patients and families, not to us. And that our simple presence there, however silent, is more powerful than our explanations of physiology or what went wrong. Cannot we just say "let us let the grieving begin" and we can sort out the details when all of the data are in... and the facts are known? Can we not just let the students at Virginia Tech and the families, just tell us about the people they lost. Who were they? What were they like? How do you want us to remember them? This would be the line of questioning that would let any healing have any chance of taking hold. Can we not simply acknowledge that this moment is theirs, not ours or that of the media? Who was not touched by the dad being interviewed who said at the end of the segment that his daughter's body had not yet been released to him or his family, and that they wanted to see her. The interviewer asked him what he would do if he could see his daughter, almost puzzled by why this guy was asking to "see my daughter." He responded, "so that I can kiss her face." Is that not grieving? Is that not how this man will cope and heal over time? Do we not instinctively know what he is saying? Of course we do, and parents all over America hugged and kissed their children this week. How many phone calls did Duke students receive from parents this week? For some reason, we often wait to express our feelings for one another at the end, on the "death bed," but this man's open grief spurred us to action in the moment. Indeed, "why wait?" This should not just be the purview of doctors, chaplains and counselors. This belongs to all of us, all of humankind. Put grief on the front page, and let the culture of blame do its bidding on the back pages, whether it is Virginia Tech or Iraq. Wherever there is loss of life, particularly of the magnitude of this past Monday or every Monday in Iraq, let us learn how to grieve and how to allow the families involved to grieve. Do not ask me who is to blame, or whether my child could have been spared. Ask me who my child was and then just sit there and be quiet. I will share with you that I need to kiss my child one more time. I will grieve. Do not let the media, however well intentioned, teach you how not to grieve. You already know how. Anthony Galanos, Trinity '75, works at Duke University Medical Center in the Department of Medicine and the Palliative Care Service. -- Original Source: Duke Chronicle - April 20, 2007