The Psychosis of Killers

We are the most educationally bloodstained nation in the world. The
occurrence of Virginia Tech and Delaware State chronologically so
close to each other displays and alarming fear to Americans, "Could
this become a reoccurance? A developing trend that will regularly
dominate headlines?" But perhaps the most alarming thing about this
is what the Secret Service, when analyzing shootings declares the lack
of signs or patterns to predict shootings.
If you were to look at a list of the violent atrocities committed
against educational facilities you begin as far back as the University
of Texas at Austin massacre in 1966 then there are twenty violent
occurrences until Columbine and then twelve from there to our current
shooting in Delaware. Thirty-two total major occurrences. Canada
lists six total. Israel: two. Finland, UK, Germany, Australia and
Lebanon, all sharing one. There is no doubt that we have an enormous
problem unique to America.
With this in mind, what can possibly be the answer? College campuses
can average six-tenths of a mile in total geographical distance. Tens
of thousands of students, how do we control a population that is
completely, and rightfully endowed with the privileges of citizens?
The only apparent answer, for now is to be on the defensive.
Universities must be prepared to lock down an entire University in a
matter of minutes. If you look at the incident at Virginia Tech the
first informing of students via e-mail was at 9:26 a.m. which is a
heavily scrutinized response. Was it an effective means to protect
students? Many proclaim it is heavily inadequate to ensure safety.
Nextly, at Virginia Tech they assumed that the shooting was isolated
and domestic in nature, obviously not a correct response either.
Until answers can be fully investigated, college shootings are not
going to suddenly stop with Delaware, unfortunately the next decade
will see their fare share.
Universities must take the threat of the potential shooting very
seriously and in the highest regard for the safety and well being of
their students. A communication system capable of instantaneously
relaying information to the entire campus, as well as to the
surrounding community must be built. Students must be well informed
how to react if a shooter should occur.
Above all, we must not allow campuses to be crippled by such anxiety
that ensues from the idea of educational violence. Is gun-control the
answer? Perhaps, but most of all we must be more restrictive of
violent media exposure to our youth. Everybody is very conscious of
sexually explicit exposure, but parents are perhaps the most lax on
violent video games and movies. We as a society are just beginning to
learn about the psychological effects of violence on the minds of not
just the youth, but all of society, (more discussion about this
later). Most of all, we must protect our universities not only in
their nature as places of free thought, but also as places of freedom,
importantly a freedom from fear.

Isaac Bennion