7 20 1884 https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/DSC00016_89c107abee.JPG null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-07-30 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2007-07-30 14:12:22 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Na Mi Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Na Mi Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-07-30 Description An account of the resource Pictures of the victims in April 16 were posted in the Squire Student Center. Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Always Remember, Hokies Forever! hokies victims https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/ambulances April 16 2007 -B_24a04bea7a.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-05-28 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2007-05-28 10:06:39 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Chad Newswander Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nancy Love Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-05-28 Description An account of the resource The scene really told the story of what we were feeling at that moment, a blend of knowing something really bad had happened and that people we knew were going to be put into those ambulances but not knowing who they are....anticipation, fear, anguish, sadness....all of those emotions were wrapped into this photo. I didn't realize the impact it would have. Photo courtesy of Nancy G. Love Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Photo courtesy of Nancy G. Love (nlove@vt.edu) Title A name given to the resource Ambulances ambulances april 16 emt https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/VT 4-16-07 064_520b9e270f.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-07-31 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2007-07-31 15:35:01 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Melissa Helms Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Melissa Helms Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-07-31 Description An account of the resource One of the Hokie Birds wearing a maroon and orange ribbon. Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource American and VT Pride hokie bird ribbon Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Curtis Taylor Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-02-19 Description An account of the resource By: Letter to the editor | Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Commentary In response to Elon Glucklich's article ("Controlling the threat," ODE, Apr. 23, 2007), I am also outraged by the increase in gun violence in America, especially the recent shooting at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, incidents like this happen all too often in all parts of this nation. All Americans have the right to be safe from gun violence in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and places of work. And all children have the right to grow up in environments free from the threat of gun violence. It is too easy for anyone - children, teens, and troubled adults - to access firearms in this country and the lethality of guns make death or severe injury more likely. This must stop! Curtis Taylor Eugene -- Original Source: Daily Emerald <a href="http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/04/26/Commentary/Americans.Have.A.Right.To.Feel.Safe.From.Gun.Violence.Everywhere-2882636.shtml">http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/04/26/Commentary/Americans.Have.A.Right.To.Feel.Safe.From.Gun.Violence.Everywhere-2882636.shtml</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Judy Riedl <jriedl@uoregon.edu> Title A name given to the resource Americans have a right to feel safe from gun violence everywhere gun control gun violence university of oregon Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Haeyong Chung Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Korea times reporters Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-10-11 Description An account of the resource By Korea Times Reporters Koreans and Americans appear to have different views on the causes of the Virginia shooting spree as the Korean fear of backlash was overcome by an American outpouring of compassion and help. Koreans, especially those living in America, are still fearful that the recent Virginia Tech tragedy would spawn an anti-Korean backlash but Americans in general have extended their hand of support to Koreans, claiming that this incident had nothing to do with race. Rather, they say, it was the case of a deeply troubled young man. Following the tragedy, readers worldwide sent dozens of letters to The Korea Times to express their views on the massacre. ``Not once has anyone blamed this on Korea, Koreans, or the fact that this troubled young man was of Korean heritage,'' American D. Rittner wrote in an e-mail to The Korea Times. ``It is important for Koreans to realize that Americans do not blame Korea or Korean people for the psychotic crimes of Cho Seung-hui, just because he happened to be Korean. What is surprising to Americans, and regrettable, is that some Koreans actually expect Americans to somehow hate Koreans because of this tragedy. Such a mob-justice `backlash' is in reality abhorrent and unthinkable to us.'' Ryan Rafferty of Burke, told The Korea Times from Virginia. He added that on a national level, most Americans view South Korea with admiration, and consider the Korean people to be close partners. He said many American families or their adopted children are of Korean descent, and the personal bonds between Koreans and people of other backgrounds in America are strong. ``Therefore, for these reasons as well, to anticipate any wide-spread enmity developing toward Korean people in the United States is as unlikely as to expect a person to develop hatred toward his own brothers and sisters,'' he said. Currently more than 90,000 Korean students are studying in America, according to the U.S. Embassy. ``The shooting is quite a tragedy, but I find it equally tragic that the Korean government, and perhaps many of the Korean people, seemingly feel somehow responsible, or connected to this tragedy,'' according to James L.R. Moody in an email to The Korea Times. He said, ``Ultimately, Cho is responsible for his actions, but the fact that he is Korean is in no way indicative of the Korean people. We as Americans can only look at ourselves and shoulder the blame for promoting violence through our movies, television, and gun culture, and our irresponsible lack of any sensible gun control laws.'' Maria Almamater said, `` While I am extremely horrified by what has happened in Virginia, with 32 senseless deaths, I wish to stand by South Korea in this time of distress.'' ``Suppose an American lunatic happens to sneak into Korea and kill someone _ should President George W. Bush apologize? Should Americans be sad? South Koreans, please don't feel sad at all.'' She added that you must find courage. ``Your ruling people need not feel sad or apologize. It is the work of a lunatic who was proven to be mentally unstable. And if at all, it is the U.S. to blame _ this boy was born in Korea, but trained in the United States. What training did he receive then?'' An American living abroad said, `` Although I am horrified by the tragedy, I am also very touched by the outpouring of sympathy and compassion by the Korean people worldwide.'' You have once again proven that Koreans are honorable and humble, he said. D. Rittner added, `` Initially I was surprised to hear that Koreans and Korean-Americans are fearful of a backlash as a result of the tragedy. Not once has anyone blamed this on Korea, Koreans, or the fact that this troubled young man was of Korean heritage.'' ``The actions and motivations of Cho are most definitely not a result of his ethnicity. It is the result of his own personality,'' he added. Americans have been slow to point their finger at Cho's nationality but they have been quick to address his disturbed mental state and the lack of gun laws in the U.S. Deryan H. MaGill, project manager of the Texas-based Dell Computer, said, ``The incident was done by an individual with an emotional disorder. ``I was very sad to find out that the boy was an immigrant but the media here I have watched have not made discriminatory remarks or made reference to terrorism,'' she said from Austin, Texas. She said, `` None of the discussion at work or in our community has been about race following the tragedy. I hope the media coverage you are seeing in Korea isn't prejudice.'' ``I am very sad for Cho's parents and for all the families affected. This is truly a tragedy. You do not owe anyone an apology. We need to pray for healing, peace and for all the families,'' she said The Korean community in America has responded warmly to Americans' outpouring of support. ``Reminded of the treatment toward Arabs in America in the wake of 9/11, I grew fearful that this incident could trigger hate crimes against Koreans in the U.S., and I stayed inside Tuesday following the story as it unfolded on television,'' Kim Se-jong, one of The Korea Times global student reporters said. ``But by watching the news and observing issues brought from this incident, I find the focus isn't much on his identity and nationality. Much of the focus is on the suspect's mental instability, gun control, poor communication between the school faculty and the students,'' she said. The former chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English Department, took Cho out of his writing class, and decided to teach him one-on-one because she was so disturbed by the content of his writings but many argue that school officials didn't do enough to address Cho's struggling mental state. They said the tragedy could have been avoided had people listened to the young man's cry for help. ``The significance of a helping hand cannot be overemphasized. When we are aware of someone who is in distress, we demonstrate compassion by extending ourselves to that person, rather than ignoring the need. And when we allow others to help us when we are in trouble, we ease our own burdens and defuse potentially devastating circumstances,'' Cornell University President David Skorton said. -- Original Source: Korea Times <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=1310&categoryCode=117 ">http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=1310&categoryCode=117</a> Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Americans Show Understanding Over Koreans' Backlash Worry korea times https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/VT flowers and cops_27e415bb4b.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-05-10 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2007-05-10 09:38:14 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Brandon Maxwell Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brandon Maxwell Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-05-10 Description An account of the resource Photo taken in front of Burruss Hall of the entrance to Norris Hall. I wanted to create an image that showed the beauty and life of the campus in the foreground, with the tragic events in the background. Most students feel safe, alive, and happy here, and I hope this image conveys that feeling. We will prevail. We will prevail. We will prevail. We are VIRGINIA TECH. Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Amongst Beauty...A Tragedy flowers police Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Sara Hood Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Amanda Mullins Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-06-27 Description An account of the resource Local knitters will gather Saturday to make blankets for the affected of April 16 By: Amanda Mullins (June 15) When the owner of Mosaic, a local Blacksburg yarn store, first started talking about <a href=http://mosaicyarnshop.blogspot.com/2007/04/mosaic-yarn-shop-is-asking-that-all.html>Hokie Healing</a>, she probably wasn't expecting the <a href=http://www.biglicku.com/blu/Stories/StoryDisplayPage.aspx?title=Knitting%20as%20healing&id=311>knitting project</a> to take off like it did. Gina Bonomo simply reached out to her knitting community, asking for 8-by-8 inch knitted squares that would eventually be sewn into blankets for the families of those killed or injured in the April 16 shootings at <a href=http://www.vt.edu/>Virginia Tech</a>. Well, the response turned out to be overwhelming. To date, she and the ladies at Mosaic have received more than 6,000 squares, hand made by knitters in all 50 states and 18 countries. The patterns, designs and colors vary, but the dual message of hope and healing is the same. And the story continues to spread. When I entered Mosaic this past Thursday, <a href=http://www.wdbj7.com/>News Channel 7</a> had also dropped by to interview Bonomo, some of her employees and a few of her customers about the project. All were excited - it's hard not to be when surrounded by piles of maroon and orange squares - and were ready to begin making the blankets. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ladies of Mosaic will host a sew-in, of sorts, and everyone is invited. There, Mosaic employees and other volunteer knitters will piece together the first 32 blankets, which will eventually be shipped to those families whose loved ones died two months ago. From there, the ladies will continue to make blankets for those affected by the tragedy until they run out of squares. Even if you've never held a needle in your life, don't be afraid to come on down to the <a href=http://www.innatvirginiatech.com/>Inn at Virginia Tech</a>. Local restaurants will provide refreshments, and the first 100 people who arrive will receive a goody bag filled with, well, goodies from <a href=http://www.starbucks.com/>Starbucks</a>, <a href=http://www.theweightclub.com/>the Weight Club</a> and other local businesses. Also, a few lucky knitters will receive door prizes, such as hand-knit sweaters, jewelry and autographed books. Finally, a silent auction, whose proceeds will go toward the blankets' shipping costs, will keep knitters and bidders on their toes. "Everything is going great," Bonomo said. "We're overwhelmed, in a good way, with the response, and we're really looking forward to Saturday." -- Original Source: <a href=ttp://www.biglicku.com/blu/Stories/StoryDisplayPage.aspx?Title=An%20abundance%20of%20warmth&ID=372> Big Lick U - June 15, 2007</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Chris Winston <Chris.Winston@biglicku.com> Title A name given to the resource An abundance of warmth big lick u hokie healing project knitting https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/IMG_1832_9e5e153295.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-04-27 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2007-04-27 07:23:07 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Patrick Hogeboom Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Patrick Hogeboom Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-04-27 Description An account of the resource 21 April- Angela Tincher, pitcher of the #23 ranked Virginia Tech softball team warms up to reenter the first softball game played after the tragic events of 16 April. Several softball games were too be played in Bristol, VA as part of the Stateline Classic, by several schools (too include the #1 ranked Tennessee Volunteers) on 4/17 but were all cancelled. The softball team wore a black VT Remembers patch on their uniforms starting with the games played on 4/21. Virginia Tech beat Maryland 5-4 in game one and beat Maryland 11-1 in game 2 of the doubleheader. Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Angela Tincher softball https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/P1020937_24c935fb4d.JPG null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-07 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-05-07 17:18:03 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brent Jesiek Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-07 Description An account of the resource Anne Goddard, whose son Colin was injured during the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, speaks at a student "lie-in" on the drillfield on April 16, 2008, A Day of Remembrance. Organized by Virginia Tech senior Alison St. Onge, the lie-in was designed as both a protest against easy access to firearms and a memorial to the victims. Family and friends of the victims spoke at the event before dozens of supporters laid down in silent protest and reflection. Photo by Brent Jesiek. Licensed under Creative Commons <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/">Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Brent Jesiek (bjesiek@vt.edu) Title A name given to the resource Anne Goddard Speaks at Lie-In anniversary Drillfield goddard lie-in st. onge https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/2457788161_3cfafc8b73_b_8d19a483df.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-02 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-05-02 09:53:11 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Roger Gupta Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-02 Description An account of the resource A candlelight vigil held on 4/16/08, A Day of Remembrance. Photo by Roger Gupta. -- Original Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/2457788161/in/set-72157604566974642/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/2457788161/in/set-72157604566974642/</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource "Gupta, Roger" <ragupta@vt.edu> Title A name given to the resource Anniversary Candlelight Vigil anniversary candlelight vigil Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Brent Jesiek Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource University Relations (unirel@vt.edu) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-14 Description An account of the resource Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:00:00 -0400 From: Unirel@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event Here is some information from the university's Cook Counseling Center and the university Employee Relations Office. Source: National Mental Health Information Center of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event: The Recovery Process Continues As the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event approaches, many survivors report a return of restlessness and fear. Psychological literature calls it the anniversary reaction and defines it as an individual's response to unresolved grief resulting from significant losses. The anniversary reaction can involve several days or even weeks of anxiety, anger, nightmares, flashbacks, depression, or fear. On a more positive note, the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event also can provide an opportunity for emotional healing. Individuals can make significant progress in working through the natural grieving process by recognizing, acknowledging, and paying attention to the feelings and issues that surface during their anniversary reaction. These feelings and issues can help individuals develop perspective on the event and figure out where it fits in their hearts, minds, and lives. It is important to note that not all survivors of a disaster or traumatic event experience an anniversary reaction. Those who do, however, may be troubled because they did not expect and do not understand their reaction. For these individuals, knowing what to expect in advance may be helpful. Common anniversary reactions among survivors of a disaster or traumatic event include: Memories, Dreams, Thoughts, and Feelings: Individuals may replay memories, thoughts, and feelings about the event, which they can't turn off. They may see repeated images and scenes associated with the trauma or relive the event over and over. They may have recurring dreams or nightmares. These reactions may be as vivid on the anniversary as they were at the actual time of the disaster or traumatic event. Grief and Sadness: Individuals may experience grief and sadness related to the loss of income, employment, a home, or a loved one. Even people who have moved to new homes often feel a sense of loss on the anniversary. Those who were forced to relocate to another community may experience intense homesickness for their old neighborhoods. Fear and Anxiety: Fear and anxiety may resurface around the time of the anniversary, leading to jumpiness, startled responses, and vigilance about safety. These feelings may be particularly strong for individuals who are still working through the grieving process. Frustration, Anger, and Guilt: The anniversary may reawaken frustration and anger about the disaster or traumatic event. Survivors may be reminded of the possessions, homes, or loved ones they lost; the time taken away from their lives; the frustrations with bureaucratic aspects of the recovery process; and the slow process of rebuilding and healing. Individuals may also experience guilt about survival. These feelings may be particularly strong for individuals who are not fully recovered financially and emotionally. Avoidance: Some survivors try to protect themselves from experiencing an anniversary reaction by avoiding reminders of the event and attempting to treat the anniversary as just an ordinary day. Even for these people, it can be helpful to learn about common reactions that they or their loved ones may encounter, so they are not surprised if reactions occur. Remembrance: Many survivors welcome the cleansing tears, commemoration, and fellowship that the anniversary of the event offers. They see it as a time to honor the memory of what they have lost. They might light a candle, share favorite memories and stories, or attend a worship service. Reflection: The reflection brought about by the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event is often a turning point in the recovery process. It is an opportunity for people to look back over the past year, recognize how far they have come, and give themselves credit for the challenges they surmounted. It is a time for survivors to look inward and to recognize and appreciate the courage, stamina, endurance, and resourcefulness that they and their loved ones showed during the recovery process. It is a time for people to look around and pause to appreciate the family members, friends, and others who supported them through the healing process. It is also a time when most people can look forward with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. Although these thoughts, feelings, and reactions can be very upsetting, it helps to understand that it is normal to have strong reactions to a disaster or traumatic event and its devastation many months later. Recovery from a disaster or traumatic event takes time, and it requires rebuilding on many levels - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, with patience, understanding, and support from family members and friends, you can emerge from a disaster or traumatic event stronger than before. If you are still having trouble coping, ask for help. Consult a counselor or mental health professional. At Virginia Tech, students should contact the Cook Counseling Center at 231-6557. Faculty and staff can contact the Employee Assistance Center at 866-725-0602 or Employee Relations at 231-9331. - end - Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event anniversary coping counseling mental health reactions recovery process traumatic event Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Brent Jesiek Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bethany Gizzi and Christine Plumeri Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-06-07 Description An account of the resource Bethany Gizzi and Christine Plumeri 26 Apr 2007 The tragedy at Virginia Tech on April 16th, 2007 is no doubt on many of our minds. We struggle with the impossible task of trying to understand how such a horrific act of violence could occur on a beautiful, thriving college campus. Some of us have to try to explain this to our young children. We turn to the media for information, for facts, evidence, and perhaps, an explanation for something that is so difficult for us to comprehend. As those who work in the media work tirelessly to gather information and share it with the public, we cannot help but notice that almost all of the attention thus far seems to be on individual, blame-centered explanations for why this troubled young man took his and 32 others' lives. Certainly, this is understandable and necessary to help us to make sense of such incredulous violence. Yet, we wonder why not also focus on the larger, cultural, macrolevel factors that are common denominators in our nation's acts of mass murder in the workplace and in educational institutions? We would like to raise our voices to encourage the media to follow one of the most important aspects of this story. One which can provide us with an understanding of this tragedy and a way in which we can create positive and necessary social change out of this tragic act. As professors of Sociology, we study and teach courses on Sex & Gender and Criminology. It is obvious to us that the time is now to face the issue of gender and gender based violence. This is not just a gun control or "hawk versus dove" debate and this is not just a woman's issue. To quote Jackson Katz, an anti-violence educator who writes and lectures on gendered violence, "we need to say this is a men's issue", too (<a href="http://www.jacksonkatz.com/">www.jacksonkatz.com</a>). In 2003, according the F.B.I.'s arrest-based Uniform Crime Reports, 90.1% of homicides were perpetrated by males and 77.5% of their victims were other males. The perpetrator of these violent acts at Virginia Tech was male. In fact, this crime is only the most recent of a long history of mass shootings committed by males in this country - many of them committed by young men and boys at educational institutions. You may recall the stories: 2 killed and 7 wounded by 16 year old Luke Woodham in Pearl, Mississippi in 1997; 3 killed and 5 wounded by 14 year old Michael Carneal in West Paducah, Kentucky in 1997; 5 killed and10 wounded by 13 year old Mitchell Johnson and 11 year old Andrew Golden in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1998; 2 killed and 22 wounded by 15 year old Kip Kinkel in Springfield, Oregon in 1998; 15 killed and 23 wounded by 18 year old Eric Harris and 17 year old Dylan Klebold in Littleton, Colorado in 1999; 2 killed and 13 wounded by 15 year old Charles Andrew Williams in Santee, California in 2001; 2 killed by 15 year old John Jason McLaughlin in Cold Spring, Minnesota in 2003; 10 killed by 16 year old Jeff Weisse in Red Lake, Minnesota in 2005; 6 killed and 5 wounded in an Amish school house by 32 year old Carl Roberts in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania in 2006; 33 killed and 15 wounded by 23 year old Cho Seung-Hui in Blacksburg, Virginia in 2007. These are not the only stories of male-perpetrated gun violence, but those that received the most media coverage over that past decade. In the coverage of each of these stories, including the murders at Virginia Tech, the media has failed to appropriately address the fact that men and boys are committing these crimes. It is time for that to change. Addressing the issue of male-perpetrated violence is not about blaming men, nor is it about locating the cause of violence in a biological explanation of aggression, given that the rates and contexts of male violence vary significantly across cultures and among individual males within them. It is also not about expensive, band-aid solutions such as metal detectors and armed security, over long-term, meaningful societal transformation. Rather, we must address the ways in which we socialize our young boys in our culture. Masculinity becomes associated with dominance, aggression, power and violence and these characteristics are encouraged, accepted and perpetuated. We have to stop believing that "boys will be boys" who grow up to kill people with guns. Boys are taught, and they see, hear and live what they learn. If these crimes had all been committed by young women, we would no doubt be asking ourselves "why?" How could a young woman perpetuate such an act of horrible violence against someone else? It would be even more unthinkable than it already is. Yet current social trends show that we are increasingly socializing our girls into more traditionally masculine characteristics as they seek to gain power and equality in our patriarchal society. As long as masculinity, and more importantly power, is associated with aggression and violence, it may be just a matter of time before females start lashing out in similar mass, destructive ways. Well, we should be asking ourselves that same question now instead of ignoring the fact that these perpetrators are male. In doing so, we are accepting the association of aggression and violence with masculinity. That should be unacceptable to all of us - men and women. We must stop ignoring the importance of gender socialization and its strong, consistent correlations with many forms of violent crime. We owe it to our sons and daughters to have this conversation and to start changing the way we raise our young men. Bethany Gizzi & Christine Plumeri Instructors of Sociology Monroe Community College <a href="mailto:bgizzi*monroecc.edu">bgizzi (at) monroecc.edu</a> <a href="mailto:cplumeri*monroecc.edu">cplumeri (at) monroecc.edu</a> -- Original Source: <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/newswire/display/20291/index.php">http://rochester.indymedia.org/newswire/display/20291/index.php</a> Licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain">Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication</a>. Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication Title A name given to the resource ANOTHER INCONVENIENT TRUTH: The Tragedy at Virginia Tech gender male masculinity sociology violence https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/4_043606cc2b.16.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-11 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-04-11 09:07:47 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Kacey Beddoes Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-11 Description An account of the resource This is the promotional flyer made for the "April 16: Remembrance, Recognition and Healing" exhibit. The exhibit was on display from April 5-20, 2008 at the Perspective Gallery in Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech. The exhibit featured photographs and many items sent to VT from around the world,including letters,artwork, flags, and clothing. There was also a television playing speeches by George W. Bush and Professor Giovanni made in the days following the April 16. Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Kacey Beddoes (kbeddoes@vt.edu) Title A name given to the resource April 16 Exhibit in Squires flyer perspective gallery squires https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/April 16, 2007_650806c02d.doc null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-10 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-04-10 16:37:03 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jacob Stowers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jacob Stowers Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-10 Description An account of the resource This became my final exam for one of my classes. It had a word count but I did not follow it. I wrote this in one sitting, without going back or revising- it just flowed out because it had to. The reason I choose to attach the document file instead of copy paste is because it felt right for me to attach the ribbon at the bottom. Thank You. -Jacob Lee Stowers (You may put this at the end if you wish) Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource April 16th Reflection - One Hokie orange and maroon Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Sara Hood Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource George Henson Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-08-24 Description An account of the resource By: George Henson, ghenson@smu.edu Posted: 4/26/07 No matter how much we try to make sense out of the horrific events of Monday, April 16, we can't. Last Wednesday, under the guise of news reporting, NBC pimped the "manifesto" and video that the Virginia Tech assassin FedEx-ed the network during the two-hour gap between the first and second shootings. "The Today Show" last Thursday morning hyped the same video footage, feigning that journalistic imperative outweighed tabloid sensationalism. For all intents and purposes, the morning infotainment show was co-hosted by a deranged murderer. It was journalistic pornography. Sideshow journalism. Capitalism. I don't know who's worse-them or us. The pornographers or those of us who consume their pornography. To their credit, the students of Virginia Tech ordered all media off their campus by Monday. The question still remains: do we really want to allow a for-profit infotainment corporation to be the voice of our national conscience? Throughout history, poets have given a voice to the tragic events that marked the time in which they lived. In 1865, Whitman's "When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd" gave voice to the assassination of President Lincoln. In 1922, the American modernist poet T.S. Eliot published "The Waste Land," gave voice to the chaos following World War I, the irrationality of modern society, the age-old theme of the universe in chaos. That's how many have felt during the last week. The first three lines of the first canto, "The Burial of the Dead," read, "April is the cruelest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain." Those lines are especially poignant now - in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy. If you've never read the poem, it's worth a read. Don't worry if you find the language difficult or the references obscure, let the imagery speak to you. You'll be surprised how much clarity - context - the poem will lend to the horrific murders. April, it turns out, has truly been a cruel month in our nation's history: On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumpter, South Carolina, igniting a civil war that tore apart the fabric of our country and killed over 600,000 Americans. Four years and two days later, on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. In fact, when Eliot wrote that "April is the cruelest month," he was referencing, at least tangentially, the assassination of President Lincoln. Eliot understood the paradox of death in April, a month that normally symbolizes hope and the renewal of life. On April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. On April 19, 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed, killing 168 men, women and children. Two years earlier, to the day, the FBI siege of the Branch Davidian compound outside Waco resulted in the deaths of an estimated 79 people. Timothy McVeigh, who was executed for the Oklahoma City bombing, said that the Waco siege was a motive for the bombing. On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold slaughtered 12 students and one teacher and wounded 24 others at Columbine High School in a Denver suburb. Virginia Tech's assassin mentioned Columbine in his manifesto. President Bush, mourner-in-chief and master of platitudes, attended a memorial service on Tuesday at Virginia Tech - but not before reaffirming his belief in the "right to bear arms." I can't be the only person who sees the perverseness in his rush to defend the assassin's right to buy the guns that killed 32 innocent people. Amid the personal mourning, Bush and other Second-Amendment supporters want us to chalk up last week's mass killings to the inevitable price of democracy. What an absurd distortion of truth! What point have we reached when we allow a president to minimize the preventable deaths of 32 people by blithely reducing the events to "[t]hey were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time"? Spare us your absurdist reductionism. No, Mr. President, they were exactly where they were supposed to be - in class. Surely someone else sees the hypocrisy in the manufactured shock that a 23-year-old with a history of mental illness is allowed to buy two guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition that he uses to massacre 32 innocent people. Surely someone else sees the insanity in allowing someone - mentally ill or sane - to buy a 9mm Glock with the same ease and casualness with which a 10-year-old buys a Slurpee. It may be years before anyone is able to find meaning in the chaos of April 16. That meaning won't come from politicians or pundits. It will come from the next Eliot. Perhaps that will be you. Until then, all we can do is console ourselves, as Eliot wrote, with "the murmur of maternal lamentation." -- Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.smudailycampus.com/media/storage/paper949/news/2007/04/26/Opinion/April.Is.The.Cruelest.Month-2881930.shtml>SMU Daily Campus - April 24, 2007</a> Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available SMU Daily Campus Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource "Norris, Mark William" <mnorris@mail.smu.edu> Title A name given to the resource April is the cruelest month southern methodist university Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Joseph Guirreri Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Joseph Guirreri Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-04-28 Description An account of the resource I never really thought of myself as a Hokie. I came to VT to learn engineering and science. I have never been to a game nor participated in any student activities. I have always thought of myself as a student here to learn, not a Hokie. Tragedy struck and I asked myself, like all did, what can I do? I found myself walking through campus, like I have done so many times before. This time it was different. I was not in a hurry to get to class and there was no commotion ringing off the building walls from fellow students. It was quite unlike any night at VT I had ever experienced. I was handed a candle and I walked out onto the Drillfield. I lit my candle and a tidal wave of previously unknown Hokie pride came over me as I heard students chant "Let's Go....HOKIES!" I was a Hokie. I did not know any of our fellow fallen Hokies, but I am not ashamed to say I loved them and nor should you. And when you walk the Hokie walk and feel as though something is different, do not ask yourself, "Is it just me?" We are all one body, one soul, one Hokie, even when we do not know it. Language A language of the resource eng Title A name given to the resource Are you a Hokie hokie student Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource CHRIS DETTRO and Sarah Antonacci Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-02-26 Description An account of the resource By CHRIS DETTRO STAFF WRITER Published Friday, February 15, 2008 Springfield-area colleges have systems in place to alert students to campus emergencies, and most procedures have been updated or were instituted originally in the wake of campus shootings at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., last spring. Thursday's shootings at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb brought the importance of those procedures to the forefront again. "It's just awful," said Mike Underwood, spokesman for MacMurray College in Jacksonville. "Something like that really hits home." The University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois College in Jacksonville and Blackburn College in Carlinville all have some type of emergency notification system where students can receive e-mails, cell phone messages or other electronic notification should there be an emergency on campus. Michelle Green, spokeswoman for UIS, said the school had a call from one parent within an hour of the NIU shooting expressing concern. UIS sent out a campuswide message to faculty, staff and students late Thursday afternoon urging them to sign up for the UIS Emergency Notification System it implemented last month. The university's chancellor or provost, chief of police or someone assigned the task sets the notification system in motion, Green said. Lincoln Land Community College recently updated its emergency procedures in response to the Virginia Tech incident, said spokeswoman Lynn Whalen. In addition to having armed campus police on duty 24 hours a day, LLCC has installed emergency phones in each classroom and has enabled all classroom doors to be locked from the inside. "We also have a good counseling and referral system should anyone need that kind of help," Whalen said. Jim Murphy, Illinois College spokesman, said more than 400 of IC's 1,000 students signed up to receive e-mail or text-message alerts last fall. "It was a response to Virginia Tech and established a way to get information to students, faculty and staff as soon as possible," he said. Blackburn College has an on-campus siren and a system to notify people via e-mail and on the college's Web site. "When something like this happens, we always review the manual," said Rusty Ingram, public relations director at Blackburn. "We have security procedures we go through, and we can lock down the entrances to campus." Ingram said the shootings at Virginia Tech "made us more aware," although he believes that because almost all Blackburn students have jobs on campus, they may be more aware. "Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to the people at Northern today," he said. "We have a chapel on campus if students here want to talk about it." Staff writer Sarah Antonacci contributed to this report. Chris Dettro can be reached at 788-1510. On the Web For more information on the UIS Emergency Notification System, students can go to <a href="https://emergency.uis.edu">https://emergency.uis.edu</a> A previous version of the story misstated the number of students who have signed up for Illinois College's emergency alert system. The correct number is 400. Licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Generic</a> -- Original Source: <a href="http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/25291.asp">http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/25291.asp</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Generic Title A name given to the resource Area colleges updated alert systems after Virginia Tech e-mail niu northern illinois university police siren text messages updated alert systems https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/100_0426_a1fa5ba11b.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-09 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-05-09 16:43:38 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Kacey Beddoes Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-09 Description An account of the resource This sign stood at the entrance to the room for "Remembering Through Art Creation". As part of A Day of Remembrance, 4/16/08, the Remembering Through Art Creation activities allowed people to paint rocks and kites as well as leave messages in victims' blessing boxes. Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Kacey Beddoes (kbeddoes@vt.edu) Title A name given to the resource Art room sign anniversary remembering through art https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/100_0347_17035abd42.jpg null Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-09 Omeka Legacy File The metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `files` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka files. This set may be deprecated in future versions. Capture Date 2008-05-09 13:35:17 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kacey Beddoes Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Kacey Beddoes Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-05-09 Description An account of the resource One of the items on display at the Alumni Center Art Exhibit. On 4/16/08, as part of the Day of Remembrance observance, the Holtzman Alumni Center Museum displayed examples of art, crafts, quilts, and other memorabilia contributed since April 16, 2007. This is one of over 60,000 items that will eventually go to Special Collections at Newman Library. This piece of art by Farhan Abouassali was accompanied by a letter of explanation that said: "The first analysis is the earthy tangible section represented by a building with three dimensional look stones to resemble the colors and the look of most of the Virginia Tech buildings on campus. Second, the colors of the Hokies flowers that represent the student or the Hokies who raised their hands to the sky waving goodbye to their Hokies friends. Third, the 32 fallen Hokies, the victims of the tragedy being grouped together with the sun in ceremonial cession, and they all making a complete circle. The 32 Hokies spirits shape half of the circle and the sun completes the other half. The ceremony is to prepare spirits of the victims to the second life or to eternity. Fourth, the representation of a superior life, and the space that carry the spirits to heaven is manifested in the upper part of the painting. Finally, the gradual change of Hokies colors from the bright orange to the dark maroom is meant to be so obvious and not to blend completely. I intended the shades of the colors to show and resemble the skyline of the new river valley with the shapes of the mountains all around it." (the first 2 lines of the letter were not visible at the exhibit.) Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Kacey Beddoes (kbeddoes@vt.edu) Title A name given to the resource Artwork with stones alumni center anniversary exhibit Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Brent Jesiek Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource C.N. Le Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007-06-06 Description An account of the resource Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 By now, I’m sure everybody has heard of the tragedy that took place yesterday, Monday April 16, at Virginia Tech University. Words cannot adequately convey the profound shock and sadness that I feel about this unthinkable human catastrophe. As an educator, a parent -- as a human being -- I am struggling to come to grips with the enormity of what happened but at the least, I want to convey my deepest, most sincere condolences to everyone affected by these killings. You may have also heard that gunman has been <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070417/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting" target="_blank">officially identified</a> as an Asian American -- Seung-Hui Cho, a 23 year old senior English major at Virginia Tech who originally immigrated from South Korea in 1992. The Associated Press article cited above notes that he was referred to school counselors after his instructors found his creative writing rather disturbing. The <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-070417vtech-shootings,1,176236.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune</a> also reports that he apparently left a rambling suicide note that railed against “‘rich kids,’ ‘debauchery’ and ‘deceitful charlatans’ on campus” and that he had committed several strange and violent acts in recent weeks. As a sociologist and Asian American Studies scholar, I will try to to put some sociological context into this horrific tragedy and several initial reactions come to mind: If the gunman were White, his racial identity would go virtually unnoticed and unmentioned. However, because he was a person of color, much will probably be made of his racial identity. Specifically, because he was Asian American, much of the nation’s attention will be turned to examining what kinds of cultural characteristics may have influenced his behavior. Also, inevitably, there will be some extreme reactions from xenophobes and people with anti-immigrant positions, perhaps along the lines of “This is what happens when we let in all kinds of immigrants, so we need to shut down our borders” or “We let in these damn foreigners and give them a chance at a better life and this is how they return the favor?” In addition, those who have anti-Asian sentiments are likely to say something like “Well, this just proves that Asians are so weird, foreign, and inscrutable --we just can’t trust them.” Unfortunately these sorts of opinions are a classic example of confounding individual traits with group traits. In other words, yes, this one particular immigrant was responsible for this tragedy, but that does not mean that all immigrants or all Asian Americans are ticking psychopathic timebombs just waiting to go on a murderous rampage. More likely, I think typical reactions will be along the lines of “Wow, I always thought Asian Americans were so quiet and passive” or “As an Asian, he must have been under a tremendous amount of pressure to do well in school.” Admittedly, these types of responses are a little harder to respond to because there are some kernels of truth to these particular sentiments. For example, some Asian Americans do tend to be quiet and unassuming, although that is changing and also, much of these perceptions are based on biased media portrayals and cultural stereotypes. Nonetheless, the perception -- whether it’s true or not -- of Asians being quiet does exist. Similarly, it is also true that many Asian Americans, particular students, do experience a lot of pressure to succeed. In fact, I’ve written about <a href="http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2006/10/asian-americans-and-college-admissions/">such examples</a> before and <a href="http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2006/09/asian-american-students-still-deal-with-violence/">other barriers</a> many Asian American students regularly face. To this mix, we can also add other examples in which various <a href="http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2006/05/rash-of-family-violence-among-asians/">social pressures</a> or <a href="http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2005/09/hmong-hunter-trial-to-start/">contentious incidents</a> have pushed Asian Americans over the edge, causing them to snap and commit murder. But does that mean that Asians are more prone to psychotic episodes that result in them killing those around them? My answer is, absolutely not. If anything, I believe the opposite is true -- that despite having to frequently deal with various incidents of prejudice, hostility, and <a href="http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml">outright racism</a>, the vast majority of Asian Americans react with dignity, courage, and perseverance. Perhaps too many still keep their emotions buried inside them and need to share their frustrations more openly in order to move beyond them, but as a group, I think that in the face of persistent examples of inequality and injustice, we do not react more violently than any other group. Did the Virginia Tech gunman’s reasons include having to deal with racism as an Asian American? At this point, I don’t know. But if that turns out to be the case, my reaction would be the same as it was in the case of Chai Soua Vang, the Hmong American convicted of killing six White hunters in Wisconsin after a hostile encounter that allegedly contained anti-Asian profanities. That is, many of us Asian Americans face racism as well, but we don’t go on murderous shooting rampages. In other words, my point is that ultimately, what Seung-Hui Cho did at Virginia Tech was an example of someone who was clearly emotionally unstable and that he just snapped for whatever reasons known only to him. I would not be a sociologist if I did not also point to the culture of violent masculinity that frames mass shootings like this. My UMass Amherst colleague Sut Jhully has produced several acclaimed documentaries that detail this phenomenon, most notably the video <a href="http://www.mediaed.org/videos/MediaGenderAndDiversity/ToughGuise" target="_blank">Tough Guise</a>. For now, I will leave it up to him and others who have greater expertise in this particular sociological context to contribute their analysis. In the end, this entire episode is an opportunity to remind Asian Americans and anyone else out there who are facing emotional issues or challenging situations that there are resources out there for them to access in order to more constructively deal with those pressures before they get out of hand. Suffering in silence doesn’t help anyone. -- Original Source: C.N. Le / CNLe.net <a href="http://www.cnle.net/2007/04/asian-identity-of-virginia-tech-gunman/">http://www.cnle.net/2007/04/asian-identity-of-virginia-tech-gunman/</a> Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource C.N. Le (le@soc.umass.edu) Title A name given to the resource Asian Identity of Virginia Tech Gunman asian asian american blog cho reaction