At The Vigil
description: 2007.04.17. A kid holding a lit candle at the candlelight vigil on the Virginia Tech campus. Photo courtesy of Ivan V. Morozov
creator: Ivan V. Morozov
date: 2007-09-04
contributor: Haeyong Chung
language: eng

Hokies reflect two weeks later
description: Virginia Tech students finish up tragic semester By: Rosemary Lane Posted: 5/3/07 Wednesday was the last day of classes for Virginia Tech students, and students said taking exams is tough while coping with the tragedy. Charlotte Savercool, a freshman at Virginia Tech, said all the hallways of her dorm are almost empty, as most students did not take exams. "The teachers have been really supportive," Savercool said. "They let us choose if we want to keep our same grade or finish certain assignments." She said the teachers won't grade anything that hurts your average. Laura Gill, a senior, said most teachers have assigned group projects so all the work doesn't fall on one student. "None of us can imagine sitting down and studying for an exam," Gill said. "It's too much for anybody." Gill said walking into the classroom on the first day back on April 23 after the shooting was the hardest part. She said she kept thinking about the shooting - about how the victims thought it would be a normal day. "Once I was in class, I'd relax a bit, but changing buildings was really rough for me," Gill said. "My heart would start racing, and then I would calm down and realize it wouldn't happen again." Junior Chris Barrett said classes were the most full on the first day back except for exam days in previous years. He said teachers talked about what happened in each class. Savercool said teachers would let students voice their opinions but she has gotten tired of talking about the tragedy. "After the second and third classes, I didn't want to talk about it anymore," Savercool said. She said the shooting has been hard to deal with, and she cannot bring herself to watch the video the shooter left behind. Savercool said she realized the shooting's impact when she looked on the Internet and heard from other students it was the largest school shooting ever. "The best way for me to deal with it is to see the memorials and not watch the news," Savercool said. Gill said the reality of what hap…
creator: Rosemary Lane
publisher: Marquette Tribune
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: "Sheaffer, Amanda" <amanda.sheaffer@marquette.edu>
language: eng

Emergency plan and safety measures information
description: By Philip Caruso The Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the Milwaukee Police Department and other government emergency agencies, has an emergency plan and training in the event a major security issue should occur. MPD is training all officers for an active shooter situation. "There may be a situation when an officer can't wait for the SWAT team," MPD spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. "We hope we never have to use it." Public Safety officers are trained to carry semi-automatic weapons, batons and pepper spray. The university purchases bulletproof vests for Public Safety officers that they are required to wear. Cameras have been placed around campus to aid in preventing crime. Emergency blue light phones, which immediately connect with Public Safety dispatch, are stationed around campus. IDs are required in order to enter residence halls and Raynor Library. "Students and faculty should take any threatening-type comments heard from a friend or acquaintance as a serious threat and should be reported immediately," Associate Director of DPS Capt. Russ Shaw said. -- Original Sourc:Marquette Tribune - April 19, 2007
creator: Philip Caruso
publisher: Marquette Tribune
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: "Sheaffer, Amanda" <amanda.sheaffer@marquette.edu>
language: eng

'You don't think this would happen'
description: 33 dead, at least 15 injured in worst rampage in U.S. history By: Kellie Bramlet and Megan Hupp Posted: 4/17/07 Loren Goble left Randolf Hall at Virginia Tech Monday morning and set out to her next class. But the senior at the Blacksburg, Va. school encountered chaos when she got to Norris Hall. "I saw someone jump out a window. I heard people screaming. I saw students running," she said. Goble turned and ran back to Randolf Hall, where she remained in lockdown for the next six hours. "I was supposed to be in the classroom that the shooting took place in. I usually even get there a little early," Goble said. "My professor was shot in the face. Four students were shot. One was shot three times." Though there is widespread speculation that one gunman had massacred 32 people, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and warn students, the possibility of a second gunman has not yet been eliminated. The bloodbath ended with the gunman allegedly committing suicide, bringing the death toll to 33. Monday's events constituted the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history. Much earlier, Brad Shapiro, a junior, headed to breakfast. On his way he passed eight or nine police cars outside of West Ambler Johnston Hall, but he had no idea what had happened. Neither did freshman Charlotte Savercool when she left Ambler Johnston and walked to her 9 a.m. class. "I thought it was a normal day," she said. The day was anything but. On her way out of class, Savercool was met by the usual herd of students. Rather than worrying about the homework they hadn't done, these students were distressed about something else. They had heard rumors about the morning's events, but knew little information. Trying to avoid the chaos, Savercool returned to her classroom. Professors told the students to sit on the floor and stay away from the windows. They would remain there, in lockdown, for the next three hours. "We were pretty s…
creator: Kellie Bramlet and Megan Hupp
publisher: Marquette Tribune
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: "Sheaffer, Amanda" <amanda.sheaffer@marquette.edu>
language: eng

Auburn Sign for VT
description: Students sign poster for Virginia Tech.
creator: Unknown
publisher: Auburn Plainsman
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: David Ingram <ingradc@auburn.edu>
language: eng

What if it happened here?
description: Virginia Tech tragedy causes campus safety issues to surface at AU By Bethany Kirby Assistant State & Local Editor One question has probably crossed every college student's mind in the last three days. What if it had happened to us? It's a valid question. Virginia Tech, which lies in the heart of the college town of Blacksburg, Va., is similar to Auburn in both size and spirit. Cho Seung-Hui, who was identified as the gunman in Monday's Virginia Tech massacre, took the lives of 32 of his fellow students before taking his own. It has sent universities across the country into a heightened state of awareness about their own preparedness for extreme incidents. "Auburn University has a comprehensive emergency response plan that is practiced frequently," said Christine Eick, director of risk management and safety. "The University has really put a lot of resources into our emergency management and planning," Eick said. "It is something we take very seriously." The University has periodic drills in training for emergency situations. Eick said this develops the communication between the University and the emergency response teams such as the FBI, the Auburn Police Division, the Opelika Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama State Troopers. Eick said the drills include practice in a variety of possible scenarios, so the teams will have a good framework for any type of emergency. "We have actually planned and drilled on persons with weapons," Eick said. Although the most recent drill was different than the situation at Virginia Tech, Eick said it was actually conducted on a larger scale. "It's pretty hard to give out reassurances at this time, because it was a horrific event," Eick said. But she emphasized that for Auburn, emergency management and response is a priority. Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Division said there is a school crisis plan for situations like this one in Auburn. "It just basically gives us our protocol to respond to any …
creator: Bethany Kirby
publisher: Auburn Plainsman
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: David Ingram <ingradc@auburn.edu>
language: eng

Auburn students drive sign to VT
description: By Sarah Brock Senior Reporter Less than 24 hours after Auburn students created a sign to show support for the Virginia Tech community, the sign was resting on the Drillfield at Virginia Tech's campus thanks to a late-night drive by two Auburn seniors. Around midnight on Tuesday, Cary Farrington and Ryan Hill began to drive to VT to deliver a 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of plywood signed by many Auburn students and faculty. When Farrington and Hill arrived in Blacksburg, Va. around 8:30 a.m., they were received by members of Virginia Tech's SGA, who helped them erect the signed memorial, which reads "We stand with you in Prayer." Farrington described the campus as real silent, partly because many students had left. The students the pair did encounter were still shocked. "It still had not registered with them," Farrington said. "They still had not processed everything. It was really a shock for them." Farrington and Hill had the chance to see the campus, including the buildings where the shootings occurred. Despite the quiet atmosphere, Farrington said police were all over campus. "The Virginia State Police were patrolling everywhere," Farrington said. "I've never seen so many police. On gameday here we see a lot of Alabama State Troopers. This just blows that out of the water." The sign was created by members of Auburn's Wesley Foundation, which held a prayer vigil Monday night. Julie Robertson, associate director of Wesley Foundation, said about 45 people attended the vigil where Farrington and Hill brought up the idea of a sign. "The beautiful thing about the response was the idea of 'what can we do to tangibly show we love them from a distance,'" Robertson said. Farrington, who is president of the Wesley Foundation, isn't sure how many names are on the sign, but he said after the first two hours on the Concourse, he counted 500 names on the front alone. He estimated another 300 on the back. He said the highest guess anyone has made is approximately 2,500 signatures to…
creator: Sarah Brock
publisher: Auburn Plainsman
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: David Ingram <ingradc@auburn.edu>
language: eng

Students participate in VT Tech t-shirt fundraiser
description: By Kristi Oberholzer Copy Editor Thanks to a good idea from a caring Auburn student, Operation: Passion has started what hopes to be a successful fundraiser for victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. Jordan Towns, a junior majoring in animal sciences pre-veterinary studies, created Operation: Passion as a response to the events at Virginia Tech on April 16. Being the T-shirt chair for Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority, Towns immediately knew how to organize the fundraiser. "I got the idea that we need to do something to help those people, and this was the first thing that came to mind," Towns said. Operation: Passion aims to raise money for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, established to aid in costs for memorials and counseling, as well as communication and comfort expenses for the friends and family members of victims. Students and community members are encouraged to go to the Concourse and in front of Comer Hall, where they can order a maroon and orange shirt which commemorates the date of the incident. Each shirt costs $11. The shirts are shipped within a couple of days and are available for pick-up at the same locations. Master Graphics, located off of South Gay Street, printed the T-shirts for Operation: Passion. The corporation provided a discount rate to Towns to help with the donation. "I can't say enough about Master Graphics," Towns said. "They've been so wonderful." The developing organization has a few volunteers and recruits assisting in dispersing the orders. Through word of mouth, Towns hopes to gain more helpers. Prospective faculty advisers include Dr. Elizabeth Wagner, assistant professor of animal sciences and Dr. William Hardy, the assistant dean of the College of Agriculture and Virginia Tech alumni. Operation: Passion hopes to become a university organization in the fall semester. The group plans to aid other organizations like Impact and the World Food Programme. Hunter Stone, a senior majoring in agronomy and soils, heard abo…
creator: Kristi Oberholzer
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: David Ingram <ingradc@auburn.edu>
language: eng

Our View: Tragedy strikes Virginia Tech
description: We cannot begin to imagine what the community is going through, but we do know they stood strong in the face of terrible acts of violence. We would like to specifically recognize the Collegiate Times, the student newspaper at Virginia Tech, for its excellent news coverage as the rest of the University faced crisis. While the entire school was in a state of shock, the newspaper's staff managed to provide up-to-date information on the paper's Web site, and we want the paper to know their efforts did not go unnoticed. As student journalists, we can understand the horror of working through the greatest school tragedy in history. Many members of The Plainsman staff referenced that site throughout the day to get the latest information, and we are proud of these strong students. As the details of the tragedy continue to be released, we have confidence the newspaper will continue its excellence in reporting. While we watched in shock as the tragedy unfolded, we began to wonder what we would do if something like this happened at Auburn. We discussed the safety measures at Auburn, and we began to realize that is is almost impossible to prepare for an emergency situation of this magnitude. It is the kind of situation that takes one by surprise in the worst way imaginable, and we feel no amount of preparation could have completely prevented the events at Virginia Tech Monday. We commend everyone involved in the tragedy for the efforts they put forth to help the Virginia Tech community. Again, we offer our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the events on Virginia Tech's campus, and you will remain in our thoughts. -- Original Source: Auburn Plainsman - April 18, 2007
creator: Anonymous
publisher: Auburn Plainsman
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: David Ingram <ingradc@auburn.edu>
language: eng

Virginia shooting shows need for safety awareness on college campuses
description: By: Laura Chapman Posted: 4/17/07 The university community was stunned Monday morning when a gunman killed more than 30 people, including students, at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. Though more than 1,000 miles separate the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus from Virginia Tech, UNL students and faculty members felt shock as well. University Police said they have made plans for a response to similar emergencies. David Solheim, the president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, said the incident was almost surreal. "I couldn't believe that something like this would happen on a college campus," said Solheim, a senior economics and international studies major. "It really makes you take your own daily life into perspective." Ali Moeller, the president of the Academic Senate, also expressed disbelief at the shootings in an e-mail interview. "It is difficult to find the words to describe such a monumental tragedy," she said. Moeller also said she was angry that laws allowed the shooter to have a weapon. "The lives of so many young men and women erased by the bullets of a madman is incomprehensible," she said. Capt. Carl Oestmann of University Police said the department is prepared for situations such as this. The preparation includes the ability to notify people of an emergency, plans to restrict access to academic and residence halls and investments in law enforcement equipment. Oestmann said University Police also has working relationships with other law enforcement agencies in the city, county and state. "It takes a combination of all of the systems to work together," he said. Solheim said Mobile Campus, a service ASUN has looked into investing in, could be a beneficial contact tool for the university in such emergency situations as the shootings at Virginia Tech. The service would allow UNL to send text messages to students. Though some might find the service expensive, it could be worth it, he said. "How much value do you put o…
creator: Laura Chapman
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

ASUN to host Virginia Tech candlelight vigil
description: By: Chris Rosacker Posted: 4/18/07 Students will gather tonight in remembrance of the school shooting that shocked the nation on Monday. A candlelight vigil will be held tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Union Plaza to honor the victims and survivors of the Virginia Tech University shooting that took the lives of 33 people, including the gunman. The ceremony is being hosted by the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska at no charge to students. It is going to be open to anyone in the community, not just University of Nebraska-Lincoln students, staff and faculty members. "We won't be exclusive - anyone who wants to come and show support for Virginia Tech is more than welcome," said Greg Gifford, a human sciences graduate student and ASUN senator. "We'll have candles for everyone who comes." Speakers at the vigil will include ASUN president David Solheim and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan Franco. Will Velander, chairman of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department and a former faculty member at Virginia Tech, will also speak about the impact on the community of Blacksburg, Va., as well as Lincoln, Gifford said. "Students have to do what they think is the right way (to pay their respects), and we're providing one outlet in a simple and straightforward way," said Solheim, a senior economics major. "The idea is to provide a way to express how they (students) feel and connect with their peers in Blacksburg." Gifford said he expects about 200 people to attend the vigil, but didn't want to guess the magnitude of response the community could have. "We can point fingers in the weeks to come," Solheim said. "But this is about the students and how their lives are now affecting our lives." -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 18, 2007
creator: Chris Rosacker
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Faculty trained to refer students of concern to CAPS
description: By: Johnny Perez Posted: 4/18/07 As the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute awoke to a changed world this morning, new developments emerged about the alleged gunman whose shooting spree claimed 33 lives, including his own. His name was Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech who was majoring in English. And according to Carolyn Rude, the chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English department, some of Seung-Hui's schoolwork prompted officials to refer him to the university's counseling service - though the date and outcome of that action is not known. Though developments about Seung-Hui and his writing are only beginning to come to light, officials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say procedures are already in place that allow staff members to alert Counseling and Psychological Services about any concerns they may have regarding individual students. UNL began taking a closer look at how it handled potentially troubled students, staff or faculty members in 1992, after Arthur McElroy, a former graduate student, walked into Ferguson Hall and attempted to open fire on his classmates with a semi-automatic rifle. The weapon jammed and McElroy was institutionalized. UNL administrators acknowledged the need to do a better job of talking to each other when what CAPS director Bob Portnoy calls "students of concern" are noticed. Portnoy, who has worked at UNL since 1991, said campus-wide efforts from the CAPS office, University Police and the vice chancellor for student affairs have improved lines of communication, but every year concerns appear on his desk about questionable students. "I can't think of a semester where that hasn't happened," he said. "I'm fairly confident we've gotten at least one call every semester." What typically occurs, Portnoy said, is that an instructor will call a CAPS representative with, say, a disturbing essay. The staff member will forward the piece of material that has caused concern and will share his or her thoughts while ha…
creator: Johnny Perez
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Vigil commemorates Virginia Tech tragedy
description: By: Marypat Heineman Posted: 4/19/07 Nebraska Union Plaza was silent for a few moments Wednesday night as hundreds gathered in solemn remembrance. The candlelight vigil was organized in honor of the tragic Monday shootings at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Juan Franco, ASUN President Dave Solheim and Bill Velander, chairman of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department, addressed the large group that filled the entire space between Broyhill Fountain and the Nebraska Union. Even after the candles were out and the speeches were complete, many students remained in the plaza consoling each other, signing a card for students at Virginia Tech and forming prayer circles. The card will be in the Nebraska Union for the rest of the week and will be shipped to Virginia Tech along with cards from hundreds of other campuses around the United States. For many present, the gathering was a chance to show support for those affected by the murders, as well as a way to cope with the reality of such a shocking event on a college campus, Solheim said. "(This tragedy) means a lot to this campus and to Virginia Tech," he said. "The purpose of this evening is remembrance, so people can cope and support their friends and show support to those affected by the incident." Many students attended the candlelit event, but Solheim said he knows that many other students at UNL are coping with the images of the shootings in their own private way. For Velander, the tragedy has very personal connections. A former faculty member at Virginia Tech, Velander has many friends and colleagues still in Blacksburg. His daughter is attending medical school at Virginia Tech. "It's a great place, just idyllic," he said. "That's what's so frightening. If it can happen to such an idyllic, golden, amazing place, it can happen anywhere." Although the event touched him personally, taking the lives of two of his colleagues, he stressed that peopl…
creator: Marypat Heineman
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Letters to the Editor - April 19, 2007
description: By:Christopher Rodgers Posted: 4/19/07 Guns, when put in the right hands, can be a good thing This mass murder at Virginia Tech is a perfect example of how important an armed populace can be. Before you fly off the cuff, I am not promoting giving every child in America a gun. Well-trained, thoroughly background checked, responsible adults with concealed weapons can prevent a lot of damage. If this guy in Virginia had met with some well-armed resistance would he have killed 32 (at the moment, at the time of this writing there are some people still in critical condition) people? Remember also that a majority of guns used in crimes are illegal, so regulating legal guns to law-abiding citizens will do nothing to stop these crimes. Adolf Hitler is quoted as saying, "This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future." Proponents of gun control favor taking guns from citizens because they fear an informed and armed populace; Hitler is a perfect example of this. Before he started his "changes" in Germany, he made sure that no one had the ability to stop him by insuring that the only legal guns were in the hands of the military. Guns are not inherently bad. When used responsibly, they are a tool that can help a lot of people. How many could they have helped at Virginia Tech? Christopher Rodgers Junior computer science and math major -- Original Source:Daily Nebraskan - April 19, 2007
creator: Christopher Rodgers
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Bomb threat called in to Othmer Hall
description: 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. Ya…
creator: Andy Boyle
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Virginia Tech shooting a sign for contemplation and change
description: By: Posted: 4/23/07 Last week was one of tragedy as schools and universities across the United States faced the terror of threats of bombs and shootings on their campuses. The events of April 16 have brought the issues of gun control, freedom, mental health and emergency preparedness to the forefront of the news and our minds. But no one suffered more than the students, teachers, family and friends affected directly by the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16. For all of those with connections to Virginia Tech who are grieving from the tragedy, we'd like to express our sincere condolences. We'd also like to commend everyone who has given University of Nebraska-Lincoln students, faculty and staff members opportunities to contemplate. We've been impressed by the outpouring of compassion that occurred on the UNL campus in many forms: signs, cards and candlelight vigils. But Friday's events on the UNL campus put a damper upon the solemn nature of the week. Like dozens of other college campuses around the country, UNL endured its own copycat scenario on Friday, the anniversary of the Columbine shootings in Colorado. We can't fathom what would motivate a person to say a bomb was planted in the College of Engineering - or anywhere else for that matter. Early Friday afternoon, a man called the dean's office claiming he planted a bomb in the engineering college. Othmer and Nebraska halls and the Walter Scott Engineering Center were subsequently evacuated and closed while police searched the building. The terrorist threat led to the cancellation of the engineering college's recruitment day, for which some prospective UNL students traveled hundreds of miles to attend. It also fostered a sense of fear that had already emerged for some on campus who realized the Virginia Tech shootings could have happened anywhere, even here. Luckily, the threat was an empty one, as were the dozens of other threats that shut down college and high school campuses across the country last week. Not t…
creator: Anonymous
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

WAITE: Shootings show a need for change in gun laws
description: By: Cyndi Waite / Junior film studies major Posted: 4/23/07 Guns kill people. People kill people. Guns help people kill people. It's an inevitable truth that firearms in the wrong hands lead to the deaths of innocent people. As a nation, as students, we witnessed and felt the tragic deaths of 33 individuals; Virginia Tech is a forever-changed campus, cloaked in confusion and fear, anger and resentment. Pointing fingers and placing blame does no good, but learning and moving forward in such a way that will prevent similar future tragedies is not only a good idea, but a necessary one. And in order to make positive, permanent, preventive change that will ensure not one more innocent life will be taken from mass shootings in our nation, we must address the issue of gun control. This is not a liberal or a conservative issue. It's not a rural or urban argument. This is a conversation among Americans who value their lives and their neighbors' lives. Gun control has become such a politically taboo subject that politicians, on both sides of the fence, avoid discussing it and refuse to make it a part of their campaigns for fear they will lose Midwestern, Southern, rural and many conservative voters. "Cries for stricter gun-control laws by some Democratic lawmakers following the Virginia Tech mass murders have been met with caution from their party leads," William Douglas wrote in his Fort Wayne News Sentinel article "Democrats unlikely to revisit gun-control legislation." "Other Democrats recommend steering clear of the issue because it could jeopardize their party's recent gains in pro-gun Southern and Western states," Douglas wrote. It's still unclear as to whether or not the Bush administration plans to officially address the issue; the Chicago Tribune quoted the administration as saying, "We understand that there is going to be, and there has been, an ongoing national conversation about gun control ... We are going to be participants." Whether those conversations happen i…
creator: Cyndi Waite
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Guest Editorial: Stricter gun-control laws will only lead to more danger
description: By: David Smith / Junior horticulture major Posted: 4/23/07 Naturally, with the recent atrocity that occurred in Virginia at a college campus not unlike ours, there has been talk of tighter gun control and even outright bans to stop such incidents in the future. Do we not have enough failing gun laws already on the books? I would like to thank Sarah Brady, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and others of their ilk for giving us "gun-free school zones." Of course, I am being sarcastic, hoping that somebody out there will see the problem here and begin to think rationally. This did not happen because of a gun. More gun laws would not have changed the outcome. We need to stop passing feel-good legislation that only disarms lawful citizens who could be able to defend themselves and save others should one of these criminals attack them. Why make an estimated 60 million to 80 million law-abiding gun owners pay for this tragedy rather than hold the shooter accountable? I'll try to put this in terms that gun-control advocates will understand. Every man in the world who possesses a penis has the potential to rape someone. However, most choose not to do so. No politician would try to introduce legislation to ban the said body part, and so, I ask, why is it any different with firearms? There are literally millions of rounds fired legally for every one round fired criminally. Currently, there are 48 states that allow their citizens to carry concealed weapons in some form, and Nebraska was recently added to that list. One would think there would be bullets flying everywhere in these states from these permit holders - but that just is not the case. I believe students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who have a valid concealed-carry permit should be allowed to use that permit on campus if they so desire. Had someone been at Virginia Tech last week with a concealed firearm, I am confident the gunman would not have been able to murder so many people. Because the doors to the hall were c…
creator: David Smith
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

Othmer bomb threat perpetrator still unknown
description: By: Andy Boyle Posted: 4/23/07 An unknown man called in a false bomb threat to Othmer Hall around noon Friday. The engineering building was closed for about two hours to students, faculty and staff members while authorities searched for explosives. Kelly Bartling, a spokeswoman for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said on Friday a man called Dean of Engineering David Allen's office and told an assistant, "I planted a bomb in the building, you bitch." The secretary called University Police, who advised her to leave the building and pull the fire alarm. Garret Schram, a junior civil engineering major, was in the building "30 seconds after the call." People were crowded around a desk talking quietly, he said. Schram was in the office getting lunch tickets for an E-week event that college was hosting. E-week is an annual celebration put on by the engineering college. Schram then ran out of the building with everyone else. The college's E-week included an open house meant for recruiting, displaying presentations, checking out labs and meeting with businesses that came for recruitment, said Joey Schaefer, a junior mechanical engineering major. At a press conference Friday, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said the bomb threat wasn't real and other campuses across the country have had similar threats over the week. "Unfortunately, these are to be expected when we had a major event like we had at Virginia Tech," he said. Othmer Hall contains the Biological Process Development Facility, which researches vaccines for biological warfare agents, according to the facility's Web site, www.bpdf.unl.edu. John Ballard, the associate dean of the engineering college, said he didn't know if there was a hazard involved because of the facility's research in biological warfare. Othmer Hall was the first building evacuated, said University Police Chief Owen Yardley. Connecting buildings Nebraska Hall and the Walter Scott Engineering Center were evacuated about 20 minutes later. The last pr…
creator: Andy Boyle
publisher: Daily Nebraskan
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng

UNL has no plans to re-examine its gun policy
description: By: Chris Rosacker Posted: 4/24/07 In light of the Virginia Tech shootings, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 1992 failed campus shooting and Friday's bomb scare at UNL's Othmer Hall, some people are calling for a re-evaluation of the university's security policies. Aaron Brown, a graduate student in the College of Law, exchanged several e-mails with UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman on the subject of the ban of firearms on campus. Brown wrote in his e-mails last week that he wants UNL to change its policy on concealed weapons. Although the state of Nebraska has passed a concealed weapons law, UNL does not permit its students to carry weapons - concealed or on display - on both UNL campuses. Earlier this semester, signs were posted around campus reminding visitors and students, faculty and staff members of the no-guns policy. But not everyone agrees with the ban, especially after the tragedy at Virginia Tech. "Unless you are willing to assure me that you or someone else will be there to protect me, let me take a gun to school," wrote Brown in an e-mail Perlman. Brown forwarded the e-mails to the Daily Nebraskan. He referenced an instance on Jan. 16, 2002, at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va., where a failing student shot and killed three people and wounded three others before being subdued by armed fellow students. The 42-year-old Nigerian student, Peter Odighizuwa, dropped his .380 ACP semi-automatic handgun when Tracy Bridges and Mikael Gross, both students, approached him in front of the building he was exiting after the shooting; Gross was armed. With the help of two unarmed students who tackled and handcuffed Odighizuwa, the rampage was brought to an end. Many Second Amendment proponents pushing for the legalization of concealed weapons have used that incident as an example of a situation where concealed handguns could be beneficial. Brown wrote that allowing students to carry concealed weapons could prevent something like the Virginia Tech shootings …
creator: Chris Rosacker
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
language: eng