Not a media bias item, but a reflection of how the media coverage of the VA Tech massacre is evolving . . .
Good Morning America's Chris Cuomo gave VA Tech a rough going-over today regarding its failure to have removed Cho from campus before he murdered 32 people. Cuomo introduced the segment, entitled "Were Warning Signs Missed on Campus," this way:
CHRIS CUOMO: Now students, their parents and friends are left with many questions of whether or not the university did everything it could to prevent all this.
Cuomo then played a video clip of Anne Atkinson, the parent of a VA Tech student, asking: "why did they allow him to stay? I think this could have been prevented."
Cuomo then interviewed Dr. Christopher Flynn, the director of the VA Tech's counseling center, and posed some tough questions.
CUOMO: A harsh lesson for the university and with what you do. Looking at the history that now we've put together, on Cho, this manifesto an ugly example but also harrassment claims from two different women, mental health assistance that the university had to know about. Looking at all these details, do you feel now it's pretty clear the university did not do all that it could have here?
Flynn demurred: "I'm not prepared to say that." He managed to work in a complaint about how funding for mental illness "has been cut since the Reagan years. Our mental health system is underfunded."
CUOMO: But it does raise the question, what do you need to do to get removed from the general population of this university? You harrass two different girls, you have five different professors saying they're worried about you, you have an acquaintance saying you think you're going to kill yourself, you then get taken for psychiatric help and are found to be a threat to yourself. What do you need to do for the university to step up and say 'we're going to have to remove this person'?"
FLYNN: Well, after someone is released from a mental health facility, they can only be released when they are no longer a threat to self or others.
Yes, Flynn really did say that.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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VT is an educational institut
April 19, 2007 - 08:56 ET by Dave RVT is an educational institution, not a mental institution. I agree (how wierd is this?) with Chris Cuomo. This Cho guy should have been booted out of VT a long, long time ago.
However, unlike Chris, I blame liberalism in general, and political correctness, specifically, for making it nearly impossible to get rid of mentally ill students like Cho. He was classified as a danger to himself and to others before any of this happened, but had they booted him, he most likely would have sued the school.
He probably would have won.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.- Neal Boortz.
You're right. Had they trie
April 19, 2007 - 09:04 ET by ZabYou're right. Had they tried to oust him, the ALCU would have been at their front door. Meanwhile, this kid had a family - where were they? Were they just happy to be rid of him?
You're Right as noted by Disenfranchised label
April 19, 2007 - 09:09 ET by PawpawNYou're correct as NBC even labels him and others that don't fit in, as they say, as disenfranchised students. As I posted elsewhere:
Did anyone else see that NBC call these nut jobs "DISENFRANCHISED STUDENTS"! I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Anything that happens bad was due to some disenfranchised reason/individual or group-like the ones in New Orleans after the hurricane-disenfranchised, like minorities that do bad things-disenfranchised, etc., etc. When are we going to call evil ____ evil, or are the LIBs just intent on making everything the fault of those who have jobs, raise their families, go to church, etc.! I know I'm sick of it & to call this crazed individual DISENFRANCHISED STUDENT. What if an American student in another country did this?
Family Didn't Know
April 19, 2007 - 09:10 ET by OldSailor88The family didn't know about him being referred and treated for mental issues. He was over 18 and therefore was regarded as an adult. Privacy act won't allow the school to notify the parents because of his age.
It appears that in 2005, the
April 19, 2007 - 09:43 ET by GalvanicIt appears that in 2005, the police had him appear fefore a judge for a determination of how to handle him. At least one psych eval at that time described Cho as being an "imminent danger to himself and others." Yet, the judge ordered that he receive out-patient care vice commitment to a mental institusion.
The VaTech administration claims that it was never made aware of those court rulings. Furthermore, because it was outpatient vice in-patient care, Cho was not entered in the the national data base that would have prevented him from buying the guns at the shop in Roanoke.
We had a similar situation at
April 19, 2007 - 11:03 ET by taznarWe had a similar situation at a University here, except in this case the student "only" committed suicide. The parents sued the University for not telling them he had been in councelling. The University was exhonerated because its against the law for anyone with access to medical records to disclose them without the patient's consent.
The problem is that its not a situation where a single rule/law will be the correct course in all situations. In our society we've decided the individual gets the final word on what information is disclosed to whom, not the nurse/doctor/administrator. Sometimes that policy works, other times...
ACLU Gold Mine
April 19, 2007 - 09:13 ET by OldSailor88Cho definitely would have had the ACLU swooping in for the rescue and the media attention. This guy was the motherload of all discrimination cases.
1. Resident Alien
2. Minority
3. Nut Job, just like the ACLU lawyer that would be representing him.
Another DISENFRANCHISED STUDENT suit!
April 19, 2007 - 09:17 ET by PawpawNDid anyone else see that NBC call these nut jobs "DISENFRANCHISED STUDENTS"! I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Anything that happens bad was due to some disenfranchised reason/individual or group-like the ones in New Orleans after the hurricane-disenfranchised, like minorities that do bad things-disenfranchised, etc., etc. When are we going to call evil ____ evil, or are the LIBs just intent on making everything the fault of those who have jobs, raise their families, go to church, etc.! I know I'm sick of it & to call this crazed individual DISENFRANCHISED STUDENT. What if an American student in another country did this?
I love all this armchair quar
April 19, 2007 - 09:13 ET by DoubleTapI love all this armchair quarterbacking that's been going on in the media. He was identified as a nutcase and was treated as such within the legal limits. Even then, his behavior could have gone a million other ways. Short of being able to read his mind no one could have known exactly what he was going to do that day.
Unfortunately, kicking him of
April 19, 2007 - 09:14 ET by Hero SquadUnfortunately, kicking him off campus likely wouldn't stop him from committing such a heinous act.
The only difference is, people would now be talking about how VT booted a troubled student and washed their hands of him instead of offering to get him the help he needed. It's a no-win for VT.
The best thing schools like VT can do in the face of a situation like this is upgrade security. Security card access at the doors, alternate exits in every room (i.e, doors to the adjoining classrooms), arming teachers with stun guns at the very least, panic buttons at every desk, and armed security personnel always within a minute from any classroom or building.
It's crazy that the schools in "dangerous" neighborhoods are probably the safest for students, since they are more prepared for such possibilities. Sadly, it's becoming clear that easy target schools need to take steps to protect students like those more security-minded institutions.
*****
"Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine no possessions?'" - Elvis Costello
That's precisely what I was
April 19, 2007 - 09:33 ET by vravaThat's precisely what I was thinking. I don't think kicking him out would have changed anything for the better. And how about just having doors that can lock from the inside... seems cheap and effective.
I was watching MSNBC last nig
April 19, 2007 - 09:15 ET by JulesI was watching MSNBC last night, and I forget who was doing the interview, but they asked Cho's roommate if they were ever told by the university about Cho's mental problems. This was after the roommate said that if he had known about Cho's problems, he would have tried more to be friends with him and help him. This outraged me because we have doctor patient confidentiality! It seems that the MSM is simply trying to find someone to blame for what happened, specificlly the university. I really wish Cho would not have killed himself, then the media would have someone to really blame for this. I think the fact that he is dead has them looking for someone else to blame. It's as if he is the victim in all this. When they caught the Sniper in DC, did we hear a bunch of excuses for why he started shooting people? I don't recall that at all, but maybe I'm wrong.
University not Guardian
April 19, 2007 - 09:47 ET by allanfI do not agree with Cuomo. Up until the fateful Monday Cho had not publicly exhibited the kind of anti-social behavior that would have permitted incarceration. . The only window into Cho's mind were his writings for English courses. Otherwise he was closed and silent except for the minor incidents in 2005.
No one could have anticpated that Cho would become a mass murderer.
If rules become lax enough to detain people who act oddly, the freedom of many people will be at risk. It will be the next generation "sexual harrasment" rules on steroids.
How would incarceration hav
April 19, 2007 - 13:07 ET by JDWHow would incarceration have benefitted Cho?
The law does not permit a university to expel students for behavioral problems.
In concern of his personal rights, he was free
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
If you are going to whine about spelling... get a life
Good question, what does it t
April 19, 2007 - 09:56 ET by Dan The Man 2Good question, what does it take for some nutjob to be removed from a university. Hmm lets ask Ward Churchill perhaps he knows.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark. -- save my gun, shoot a liberal.
Unbelievable
April 19, 2007 - 10:00 ET by iveseenitallIf one wants to place blame on anything, put it on P.C. and the lawyers who support it. Trust is gone in this nation because of it. Suppose someone had taken action concerning this kid. Chances are he/she would have eventually had to hire a lawyer to fight the lawyer who brought a lawsuit. Most people want to stay out of anything because of lawsuits today. This has affected all aspects of our society: at home, at school, in the workplace, etc. You even have to watch the words you say. Tort reform is ignored by our Congress because so many of our representatives are corrupt lawyers themselves. Nothing will change until the P.C. merchants and the lawyers stop what they are doing. But don't hold your breath.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
EXPULSION
April 19, 2007 - 10:43 ET by DoubleTapSince this is all second guessing, what happens if the university did expel him and the expulsion was the thing that set him off? Do people really think he would have stayed away?
DoubleTap, your post points
April 19, 2007 - 11:02 ET by MightyMouthDoubleTap, your post points out the constant need of the left to "fix things". Some things cannot be planned for or forseen. This may be one of those things. Yet the left (and some conservatives) will overreact trying to "make sure it doesn't happen again." You watch, some friggin law will come out of this.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Carole King
April 19, 2007 - 11:10 ET by Cool ArrowCho couldn't have been legally bound in an institution any more than Carole King for "Smackwater Jack". Didn't he go into church and "shot down the Congregation"?
In Colorado yesterday a student was jailed for voicing some sympathy for Cho's reasoning.
The thought police are coming.
Cho couldn't have been legall
April 19, 2007 - 14:08 ET by JDWCho couldn't have been legally bound in an institution
The court issued a temporary detention order finding him 'unstable and dangerous'.
How does he end up in outpatient rather than secure care?
How is he able to purchase weapons?
Was he taking meds for depression and who was monitoring? Obviously he was suicidal.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
If you are going to whine about spelling... get a life
To remove a student.
April 19, 2007 - 11:07 ET by Blogger Guy00001First, the student should be a White, Christian, heterosexual male.
Then find someone who accuses him of a non-PC thing.
Student is gone in 1 minute.
I heard Cho's anti religious,
April 19, 2007 - 12:52 ET by ratso ferrariI heard Cho's anti religious, anti capitalist and anti American comments. To me he sounded just like a liberal college professor maybe another Ward Churchill. I'm curious to why I haven't heard anyone question where and how he formed his view of the world. The media is trying to blame everything on his so-called mental illness. Who were his professors and what did they teach in class?
if it's a serious question
April 19, 2007 - 13:05 ET by tumbler_2007In case your question is indeed serious:
This dude was out of his gourd. It was his mania that prompted that verbiage and hatred, not in fact a professor Svengali.
There's no shortage of anarchistic bullshetters in circulation today. Just surf over a few blogsites and you'll see much more than just the tripe Cho was entertaining himself with.
That's what the tapes are; his own self-aggrandizement, he entertained himself playing megalomaniac. After this maniac had talked the talk, he decided to walk the walk. The guy was a lunatic.
Think about this.If he had
April 19, 2007 - 13:28 ET by Right2thePointThink about this.
If he had stood there with his hands up at the end of all this and surrendured to police he would have gotten off on an insanity defense.
With no real guarantees that the mental health system would not later inject him back into society.
Even if they had given him
April 19, 2007 - 13:24 ET by Right2thePointEven if they had given him the heave ho off campus, the could still arm up and come back to do his dirty deed.
Maybe the dorm shooting could have been avoided if card access were required, but remember he lived in a different dorm.
All he had to do was shoot a student and then use their card.