Is attending school on a daily basis something that makes you feel safe? Although some students and teachers may not view school as a hazardous environment at first, their perception can change dramatically after incidents of school shootings. A tragic example of this occurred on April 16, 2007 in Blacksburg, Virginia when a college student from Virginia Tech opened fire on fellow students.
Discussions on the antecedents, sequence of events, root causes, and consequences of the Virginia Tech shooting - deemed as the largest massacre in American history - have been prompted. This incident is just one example of numerous instances of violence and misconduct that plague our educational institutions.
Prior to the Virginia Tech massacre, there were preceding incidents. The person responsible for the shootings was identified as Cho Seung Hui, a 23-year-old Korean English ma
...jor, by The New York Times. He was known by students and faculty members to be an introverted individual who preferred solitude and rarely conversed. His constant demeanor suggested sadness, indicating that he had suffered a significant personal loss.
There was a general lack of understanding about Cho and his motives among his peers and those who encountered him in everyday life, such as in his creative writing class with Professor Nikki Giovanni. As reported by the Washington Post, Cho's morbid and disturbing writing caused concern among classmates, causing some to stop attending class altogether due to fear of what he might be capable of. The nature of his work was deemed inappropriate for college papers due to its graphic content. The Chair of the English department, Lucinda Roy, recognized Cho's troubling behavior and opted to provide one-on-one tutoring sessions instead
However, Roy soon became aware of deeper issues and suggested Cho seek help at the counseling center.
Roy claimed that she had informed both the board and faculty members about Cho's serious issue, but her concerns were ignored. This eventually led to a tragic incident on April 16, 2007 when Cho Seung Hui, a student at Virginia Tech College, went on a killing spree as he felt he had no other options left in his life. CNN News provided a detailed timeline of events during the massacre which began at 7:15am in the West Ambler Johnston Hall, housing almost 900 students. A call was made to 911 reporting two students being shot. From 7:30am till 9am, there were discussions between police and school board members trying to identify who could have committed such an act.
After the start of the shooting, Virginia Tech utilized email notifications to inform students. Another 911 call was placed at 9:45am, reporting additional shootings at Norris Hall. Tragically, this attack resulted in the deaths of 31 students including the perpetrator, Cho, who took his own life after committing such a heinous act. Email notifications were once again sent to inform students of the second shooting. Later on, around noon, the college president announced the cancellation of classes and the availability of counseling services for anyone who required them.
According to MSNBC News, Cho Seung Hui sent a package containing frightening videos, photographs, and written documents, which was received nearly two days after the largest school massacre in history. The package was postmarked for the day of the shootings and entered into the system at 9:01 am, but was delayed due to an
incorrect zip code. This indicated that Cho had returned to his dorm room to gather the materials and then went to the post office between the shootings to mail the package, which contained his anger towards almost everything and everyone.
Moreover, there are multiple reasons why such a shocking event could occur in our country and feel so close to home. It's astonishing how the cruelty of one person can impact the lives of so many individuals. Some individuals have begun to question the cause of this massacre. One issue that has been brought to attention is the lack of action taken by Virginia Tech College when notified by faculty and students about Cho's potential danger. If the school had delved into the gunman's background and taken seriously the numerous complaints filed against him, perhaps the tragedy could have been prevented. However, dwelling on past "what ifs" will not change what occurred.
The portrayal of violence in movies, music, and television could have played a part in the tragic occurrence since people are often affected by what they view. The creators of these forms of media fail to consider the potential effect on individuals' lives. Furthermore, video games have advanced considerably from classic games such as Pac Man and Mario Brothers to more lifelike and graphic displays of violence.
The inclusion of extreme violence in videogames enables players to participate in illicit activities such as theft, murder, drug use and explosions. This can adversely affect individuals of all ages. If not addressed appropriately, it may lead to future tragedies like the Northern Illinois University massacre where six people were killed. Regrettably, these incidents could motivate others to engage
in violent behavior too. Hence, it is imperative that help be sought for those exhibiting worrisome conduct and US college campuses should enhance their surveillance and safety protocols.
The idea of professors carrying weapons in response to school shootings has been discussed. However, the thought of being taught by an armed professor is worrisome because anyone can have a sudden outburst. It's challenging to trust faculty with this responsibility as they may get angry with students due to their high workload. A teacher could potentially lash out and randomly shoot students. Thus, before considering arming teachers, other security measures such as hiring more guards, installing metal detectors, and placing surveillance cameras should be taken. Some schools conduct drills to prepare for potential shootings and provide safe areas for students.
Instead of arming faculty, safer suggestions have been made that would allow students to carry guns for protection while attending school. However, some argue that allowing everyone to be armed while pursuing an education could be a dangerous prospect. Despite this, according to a piece by Eddie Isler and Ellie McDaniel on gunowners.org, Gun Owners of America has passed a law granting gun card holders the permission to carry guns on school grounds. The decision ultimately lies between finding alternative security measures or allowing individuals to carry guns on campus for self-protection.
The country was deeply affected by the tragic incident on April 16, 2007 when Cho Seung Hui conducted a massacre that resulted in numerous fatalities. The recent school shooting at Northern Illinois University claimed six student lives and hits particularly close to home for those attending Rend Lake. It is alarming to consider that anyone can
open fire on innocent individuals at any given moment. Therefore, it is crucial to closely examine the issues surrounding school shootings such as individual behavior within educational institutions, killer patterns, familial backgrounds and media impact.
We need to consider the potential implications of this tragedy, including the likelihood of future incidents and the level of comfort we have with arming students and teachers. It is crucial for school security measures to strengthen and prevent further school shootings like the Virginia Tech massacre from happening again and taking even more lives.
