VA Tech shooting

Parent Cafe
661

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In the recent experience a relative had with a mental health facility, the patient could at any time request a “3-day”, and within 3 business days, the facility either had to agree to release the patient, or if they felt it was not in the patient’s best interest, there would be a court hearing where the facility would present evidence of danger to self or others. If the judge agreed, the patient would be held “involuntarily”, but could request another “3-day” at any time. I do not know if this is true nationwide, or whether there are differences by state.</p>

662

<p>“I agree with the poster who suggested that maybe the U.S. has become too PC for its own good. Certainly in some areas, I would agree with that.”
Epiphany, I’ll amen that.
A few years back we had a kid at our hs that kind of acted the same way, he refused to participate in class, would sit back and GLARE at the instructor and me (I was assisting). Literally he would stare us down. Very creepy. No friends, mad at the world. I found a site on the internet where he’d posted some very disturbing rantings about wanting some woman dead (another students mom), on and on. I copied it and took it to the school. The response was IMO totally wimpy…“well, you know, he’s got some problems, in counseling, broken home, we’re trying to work with him…” Thank God he never did anything of this magnitude, but still, I makes you wonder- where do we draw the line at what we expect from our students? Should there be a code of conduct?</p>

663

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<p>Maybe colleges should insist every student sign this wavier and keep parents in the loop. Everyone is quick to hold the VT community (instructors, RAs, police, counselors, admin) to a higher level of responsibility than the Cho’s parents. </p>

<p>Yes, Cho was chronologically an adult, but he had no job or visible means of support. Where did he get his money? He had a computer, camera, vehicle, guns, etc. – all paid for by someone. Someone, who could have used withholding of funds as a leverage to force Cho into treatment.</p>

<p>I know many of you disagree but IMO, VT should not be held to a higher standard than Cho’s family. </p>

<p>Let’s not forget how the Unabomber was caught……and stopped. Thank God for his courageous brother!!</p>

664

<p>mootie-
See my post #543 for a response to your post #661</p>

<p>And Tututaxi,
Once again, excellent points. We have the unabomber’s brother to thank for ending that serial killing</p>

665

<p>THe laws and prviacy do play a role, of course, but when people don’t use the law, ie, the stalking of at least 2 women, then it is useless</p>

<p>And you know if 2 women reported the stalking, he was probably stalking others, but this type of behavior is not taken seriously enough by law enforcement, nor by women themselves</p>

<p>We see all too often stalking turning into something dreadful</p>

666

<p>TutuTaxi,
I agree with your post 663, and my reasons for such waivers preceded the VA event. Relatives are the <em>off</em>campus adult support system – a check on whether/if the student is indeed feeling supported, taking advantage of campus support, needing the local support, in trouble but not communicating that, etc.</p>

<p>This goes back to the linked article of several pages ago on this thread. One of the points brought up in that article is that a portion of the profile of such at-risk overnight “maniacs” (in the clinical sense) is the LACK OF LOCAL SUPPORT. This can occur even for an area student, but certainly for someone from another state, from across the country, from overseas, etc.</p>

667

<p>Agree with TUTU,
However, unfortunately universities/schools have to put safeguards in place to protect students from kids whose parents aren’t in the loop. I see two possibilities with Cho’s parents- either they didn’t know their kid was so messed up, even those it was excruciatingly obvious to everyone else who came in contact with him, which suggests total detachment; or they were aware he was a mess but didn’t think it was a big deal or didn’t care enough to cut the funds (if in fact they were bankrolling him, which I’m assuming they were). Either of these cases does not suggest a successful, functioning family.</p>

<p>Some parents just don’t think their kids are that strange. The mother of the kid in my last post just thought her son was a little different, going through growing pains, and eccentric.</p>

668

<p>some states only use federal info which wouldn’t include local info.
Another thing, which I read, was that his ammo, was 15 round clips which have been banned but are still sold on ebay and other places, including by CC posters.
ttp://<a href=“블로그 한국”>www.stategunlaws.org/viewstate.php?choose_state=Go&st=VA</a></p>

<p>Apparently it isn’t uncommon as some posters have stated, to anticipate weaponry being banned, and to “buy up” multi round clips and machine guns etc, to have available for sale to the highest bidder, once they * are* banned- because they know there will always be demand.</p>

<p>I agree that an essay may have indicated his mental state, and I also wonder if he was indeed schizophrenic ( not frankly that I really care much), and it is something that often presents for the first time in early 20s from what I have read.
But what do we do? Should we be able to lock people up for observation & who will decide that? I actually think that it might be a good idea, but I don’t know how we would do it.</p>

<p>I also don’t understand the eagerness to place blame on the school by the media.
Yes they made mistakes.
They are a university, not the federal government ( who BTW has made pretty big mistakes themselves when dealing with crisis )</p>

<p>I just watched CNN at the gym ( closed captioning- I don’t pay for TV) and Mygod- I know that reporters have to have a “different” perspective to comment on tragedies throughout their career, but couldnt they stop themselves from jumping up and down ( figuratively), with excitement that they finally have a really big story to report?
( I also am put off by emphasis on his Asian background, he has lived here since he was a child, he was American)</p>

<p>But I was really struck by two experiences, one was a girl ( I don’t remember where I read it) who had said, that the disturbing behavior from Cho, made those who knew him, speculate that he would do something like this ( but I imagine since- for most it is unimaginable- they didn’t really think, that it was a possibility).
When she heard about it, and then heard that it was Cho, she broke down.</p>

<p>Also hearing about the girl who had called her parents to tell them she was ok, then went to class, where she was killed.</p>

<p>Quite devastating.</p>

669

<p>Communication is the key–parents, communicate with your college students! Stay in touch on a regular basis–NOT once a week or once a month. Colleges have historically taken a hands off approach and in today’s society, too many parents are expecting the schools to raise their kids. Perhaps it can be done thru elem, jr high, and HS, but it will not happen at college. I think too many parents just don’t understand this. And, I am not trying to place “blame” anywhere, just wish there was more communication among families!</p>

670

<p>ALtho Cho has a now known significant history - he was pretty much under the radar for the past 18 or so months - hadn’t threatened anyone - no complaints about him - since his stint in a psych facility - who apparently did not feel that his psych status at that time bore any further actions. There is no further info available yet on that period of time. </p>

<p>It sounds as tho the complaints that were voiced - the text messages/stalking/etc type of behavior - were ‘handled’ - he was spoken to by the police/etc. - and there were no more issues regarding those. He complied and stoped that type of harrassment of the girls who complained. They may have felt that since he stopped - there was no reason - at the time - to file a charge against him officially. The girls that complained were more annoyed than anything - apparently did not feel threatened.</p>

671

<p>Actually, at a local Greek newspaper the blame was laid upon the extremely lax gun laws. What do you think about that? </p>

<p>And also, I heard the university emailed the students…</p>

672

<p>I agree about the gun laws…ridiculous that a college student could buy a gun with a record of police investigations for stalking and a history of mental problems/counseling. I think students should have to get approvals or a background/release form from their school (if they reside there like this student did) before being able to complete a gun purchase…it’s only fair since the student will be keeping the gun on campus…</p>

<p>But that’s just my opinion about gun laws, whatever. A much less controversial solution: not allowing people to bring guns on campus! If this guy snuck the gun onto the campus, then, yes, well, there should have been stronger gun control :(</p>

673

<p>From VT handbook:
Sports and Specialized Equipment
Knives, guns, or any other weapons may not be
stored in the residence halls for any reason. Se*
vere University judicial action will result for students
found in possession of or using weapons.
Items that may be used for academic purposes
or personal sporting equipment that is potentially
hazardous in a residence hall setting are also pro*
hibited. Examples include, but are not limited to,
culinary knives, machetes, power tools, dart and
paintball guns, water balloon launchers, and foils.</p>

674

<p>Do you really think someone planning a murder/suicide on campus is going to be deterred by a rule against bringing guns on campus?</p>

675

<p><a href=“http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-chosparents,0,4860937.story?coll=ktla-news-2[/url]”>http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-chosparents,0,4860937.story?coll=ktla-news-2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>“Cho’s Parents Rumored to Have Committed Suicide” – what’s interesting to me about this is that it’s apparently a wide-spread rumor in S. Korea. This illustrates the cultural expectations his parents are/were operating in. If they are alive, speaking to the media is not something they would be thinking about.</p>

676

<p>In my opinion, just a handbook statement is not enough…especially regarding people with the problems that this one faced</p>

677

<p>Agree notready4purple–just as if he couldn’t buy the guns legally, he would have either bought them illegally or used a different method.</p>

<p>Teenagers I have worked with in my town tell me it is easier to buy guns and drugs than it is to buy tobacco and alcohol.</p>

678

<p>That is very disconcerting to know. It makes people afraid of letting their children go. My mom had a fit when she found out about it, but she calmed down later on.</p>

679

<p>Moominmama, that is an awful, awful rumor. Let’s NOT spread that until we know it’s absolutely true :frowning: I think it’s easy to accept/believe because of the limited, simplified knowledge that Americans have of Asian cultures…but these are real people and I don’t want to reduce them to pop-cultural cliches like seppuku and “family honor.”</p>

<p>I do wonder how the poor sister feels though. Princeton grad and everything. (The plight of the victims’ families is of course TERRIBLE–that goes without saying)</p>

680

<p>As it was mentioned in the video, in the same way a nation ought not to be condemned for the actions of an individual, the sister should not be condemned or even mentioned in this tragedy. My conviction is that the worst thing now is for them to remember about it. And the sister should not be stigmatized because of that.</p>