2008 Woodie Awards
Prevent violence, watch for signs
Daliah Singer
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: News
In response to the Virginia Tech shootings, the Health and Counseling Center offered a workshop last week on how to spot the warning signs of potential violence and methods that can be used to prevent it.
"It is important to acknowledge the rarity of these events," said Terri Osborn, director of counseling services. But, it is equally important to recognize that "the effects that they have are devastating and tremendous" for the community and the nation, she said.
On April 16, thirty-two people were killed by Cho Seung-Hui, the student shooter at Virginia Tech. Many others were wounded with multiple gunshot wounds.
In her lecture, Osborn cited not only the Virginia Tech shootings, but the 1970 Kent State riots and the 1986 murder of Jeanne Clery, among "the most notorious college campus events that have changed history forever for campus culture."
"Very rarely are perpetrators of campus violence strangers," said Osborn. More often, they are students or recent graduates, and, it is likely that they have told at least one person of their plans before they actually carry out the violent act.
In a study done by the Department of Education and the Secret Service, in almost all of the 37 school shootings (not including college shootings) studied, someone knew ahead of time of the perpetrator's plot and said nothing.
Decisions to commit these acts don't happen "in an instant," said Osborn. The decision to carry out a violent act can take minutes, hours, days or even years, she said.
Potential indicators of violence include a history of aggressive behavior, access to or fascination with weapons, obsessions, unsuccessful personal history and being a victim of bullying.
"The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior," said Osborn. The majority of school shooters studied in the Department of Education study had a history of being bullied, said Osborn.
With the Virginia Tech shooting, the perpetrator had a history of stalking, which is considered an obsession. This can be viewed as a warning sign that there may be possible problems in the future.
"It is important to acknowledge the rarity of these events," said Terri Osborn, director of counseling services. But, it is equally important to recognize that "the effects that they have are devastating and tremendous" for the community and the nation, she said.
On April 16, thirty-two people were killed by Cho Seung-Hui, the student shooter at Virginia Tech. Many others were wounded with multiple gunshot wounds.
In her lecture, Osborn cited not only the Virginia Tech shootings, but the 1970 Kent State riots and the 1986 murder of Jeanne Clery, among "the most notorious college campus events that have changed history forever for campus culture."
"Very rarely are perpetrators of campus violence strangers," said Osborn. More often, they are students or recent graduates, and, it is likely that they have told at least one person of their plans before they actually carry out the violent act.
In a study done by the Department of Education and the Secret Service, in almost all of the 37 school shootings (not including college shootings) studied, someone knew ahead of time of the perpetrator's plot and said nothing.
Decisions to commit these acts don't happen "in an instant," said Osborn. The decision to carry out a violent act can take minutes, hours, days or even years, she said.
Potential indicators of violence include a history of aggressive behavior, access to or fascination with weapons, obsessions, unsuccessful personal history and being a victim of bullying.
"The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior," said Osborn. The majority of school shooters studied in the Department of Education study had a history of being bullied, said Osborn.
With the Virginia Tech shooting, the perpetrator had a history of stalking, which is considered an obsession. This can be viewed as a warning sign that there may be possible problems in the future.
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