Virginia Tech and UCSB

Perhaps it is still too soon to write this piece.  Perhaps it is too late.   

Like everyone, I was shocked and horrified by the mass killing at VT.   It seems incomprehensible.   How can one person be so cruel and heartless.  How and why would anyone inflict such damage upon innocent people.   The simple answer is, of course, madness.   After my initial reaction of horror, I was then taken with several other emotions:  anger, frustration and fear.   

Anger because the senseless loss of life.

Frustration because in  hindsight solutions and mitigation were obvious but  never implemented. 

Fear because it will happen again.  Not necessarily in the same manner, but it will happen again.   

After reflecting upon what to write, I have decided to forgo a diatribe on the assignment of relative responsibility.  Rather, perhaps we can all learn something from this tragedy.  Something that would apply to UCSB.   

Unfortunately, UCSB has already suffered a Cho type massacre in 2001.  The perpetrator was named David Attias.  Instead of a gun, David's weapon of choice was a vehicle.  After his rampage (four killed and several seriously injured), he was muttering such things as "I am the angel of death" and talking about the "dark side."   Unlike Cho, he was held accountable for his actions by being committed to a state mental institution.   

Unfortunately there are far too many similarities between the two massacres.

But before we discuss what can be learned, let's make it clear that Cho and Attias are the ones who are responsible for the crimes.  It's not the guns or the cars or whatever the next madman's weapon of choice may be, it is the person.   That said, UCSB and VT have a duty to provide a safe environment for their students.  In both cases there were plenty of opportunities to stop these madmen before they killed.  Both schools failed to keep their students safe from these madmen.  Both schools failed to take the steps that might have stopped the carnage.  

In both cases the school's administration was aware of the perpetrator's problems but took no effective action to remove him from the school or provide him adequate help.

In both cases the perpetrator's friends and acquaintances took no action to stop the downward slide into madness and eventual violence.  

In both cases, the admin of the schools were first in line on the "victim" side of the ledger.  Neither school accepted any responsibility for its failure to act.  

Who can learn from the UCSB and VT massacres?   The administration, the staff,  the campus police (you will notice that I list them separate from the staff as I hold them accountable to a different standard because they are sworn peace officers and should operate autonomously from the administration with regard to law enforcement matters), the families, and the campus community.    

The Administration.  The administration of the schools (especially UCSB) should take action to exclude students who are dangerous.   Attias was dangerous and the admin knew it.  He had had run-ins with the campus police and fights with other students.   His behavior was so strange that he was nicknamed "Crazy Dave."   Local authorities were well aware of him and merely ignored him or took only limited actions against him.  It isn't funny or cool to do and sell drugs, commit property crimes, abuse alcohol or commit violent acts.  However, it is a massive level of "tolerance" for "poor choices" at schools (particularly UCSB) that cause aberrant behavior to be ignored.  Also, the schools try to keep down enforcement as it may have to be reported on the crime reports and might tarnish the school's reputation.  This type of protection for appearances allows people like Attias and Cho to "slip through the cracks."  

Roommates:  In both cases, the roommates and dorm mates of the perpetrators knew these guys weren't quite right.  Do not fall victim to the ultimate PC lie.  It is not alright to be anti-social.  If your roommate is nutty, obnoxious or bizarre, bring it to the attention of the authorities and press the point until they take some action..  If was hard for Attias's acquaintances to bring his drug abuse to the attention of the authorities since most of his friends did drugs with him.  Those who didn't bought into one of the most noxious of UCSB's articles of faith: "don't rat out anyone."   What a lovely citizenship lesson.  

The families.  Both Attias and Cho's families knew they were dangerous.   Attias had been committed to a mental institution for attempting to murder his sister.  In a carefully worded letter from Cho's sister, she stated that the family had no idea that he was capable of "this level of violence."   Notice the distinction between their knowledge of his capability for violence and "this level" of violence.  

Victims:  Both Attias and Cho had other previous victims that failed to follow through on their complaints.  In Cho's case it was not only the authorities, it was two coeds who filed complaints about his stalking them but then didn't follow through to make sure he was held accountable.  If we assume that these two people have consciences, can you image what they are feeling today?  What if they had demanded that the authorities take action against Cho.  Maybe, just maybe, he would have gotten the medical help he needed.  The same holds true for Attias.  While Attias's friends knew he was "nuts," they didn't turn him in for drug abuse because they did drugs with him.   

The lessons to be learned are simple.  When people break the law or act out in anti-social ways, the administration, the other students, the police and the community have a responsibility to act.   If we don't, we become unwitting accessories to these horrific crimes.  

Look back at most of the people who have been a problem at UCSB.  From the man who killed Brad Jones to Attias to even Cervin Morris who sent a person to the hospital after assaulting him with a beer bottle, they all have one thing in common:  previous records of crimes or substance abuse.   It is very unusual for a first time offender to commit horrible crimes without any signs of it coming.  

Do we want to party on and ignore the dangers or do we want to act like adults?  Let's address criminal behavior with rejection and punishment.  Let's address mental illness with the compassion necessary to get these people help.  It is not kind to let them degenerate to violence.  It is not cool to look the other way when criminals strike – you might be next.