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News Christianity Today CEO visits campus -page 8 Sports Men's volleyball triumphs at nationals -page 9 Sports Softball nears end of season -page 10 nznaiiBi Thursday, April 26,2007 Volume 82 • Number 21 Photo by Phil Mach Professors at Virginia Tech expressed concern over student Seung Hui Cho's creative writing stones because of their violent nature. Professors at Bethel are questioned about how violent is too violent in creative writing? Cho Seung-Hi's history of violent writing raises overall concerns over creativity vs. instability debate Professors share how they know when violent writing crosses the line By Sarah Doss In the days following the Virginia Tech tragedy, the violent writings of shooter Cho Seung-Hi have been extensively analyzed and reported. The same question lingers: Should faculty have taken more action when these writings emerged in the classroom? The severe degree of violent imagery displayed in Cho's short stories and plays was enough to draw concern from- faculty members at Virginia Tech, but should the mere presence of violence in a student's writing be enough Teople tend to draw on traumatic experiences in their writing, but representations of violent imagery ing signs. -Mark Bruce writer. "The mortality rate of characters in freshmen and sophomore writings is at an astonishing high," Horstman said, "but this of course doesn't mean that these students are terrible people, it just mainly deals with issues with craft. They don't know how to end the story, so they kill off the character." Only certain cases leave faculty to view a student's use of violence as more than self-expression. "There have been some students whose use of violence bothered me," Horstman said, "but it to cause concern? In writing classes where students are encouraged to explore their emotions, the line between fiction and realistic threat isn't easy to discern. This event has begun to cannot be seen specifically as warn raise such questions for the creative writing faculty at Bethel, who, by the nature of what they teach, are occasionally exposed to the darker thoughts and attitudes of their students. "For students to be able to articulate their experiences, they have to feel comfortable to explore their emotions," said Joey Horstman, associate professor and department chair of English, "and that sometimes leads to uses of violence." In creative writing classes, students are told to draw on their feelings and experiences, which often opens opportunities for writings that display situations of violence and brutality. "People tend to draw on traumatic experiences in iheir writing," said Mark Bruce, assistant professor of English, "but representations of violent imagery cannot be seen specifically as warning signs." Use of violence in writing might also be the sign of a novice was mostly the kind of violence they used." Another red flag for faculty is when the student's attitude on paper extends out of the classroom, as was the case with Cho. "One of the only ways I would be worried is if these kinds of violent writings connected with violent actions," Bruce said. The difficulty for professors is finding ways to encourage student's creativity while also keeping violence to a minimum. One tactic facully use is io give boundaries on students' use of violence. "I say 'no dead babies,'" Horstman said, "and some professors tell their studenis not to kill off more than one character per story." Professors who teach creative writing must walk a fine line, encouraging self-expression while protecting the besl interests of their students. The task seems impossible, especially following the events at Virginia Tech, but the facully at Bethel will continue to teach and protect their students to the best of their ability. Analysis Statistics show downward trend in school shootings Over the last decade school violence still low compared to other forms of violence By Monique Champeau Though the Virginia Tech shootings were the deadliest in America's history, it actually marks a downward trend in school violence over the last 10 years. Overall, there have been only 36 incidents of school violence in the last decade, Without downplaying the events on April 16, the number of school shootings compared with the total number of schools in the country shows the events are infrequent. This number is also low compared to other types of violence in society. "This type of unpredictable 'snapping' is rare... it's like a plane crash. Driving is safer than flying, but people always hear about plane crashes," said Jim Koch, director of Counseling Services. "It's always big news...and people want that moment in the spotlight. All this news is reinforcing how much attention you can get, and it brings up old wounds for a loi of people." Perhaps the most memorable event was the 1999 murder of 15 students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. It received extensive press attention because the students, 17 and 18, had plotted to kill over 500 students and blow up the entire school after at least a year of detailed planning. But this type of planned attack is a rarity. Thanks to added security and programs designed to allow students to talk openly about personal struggles, more incidents have been stopped before they're carried out. At Bethel, issues of confidentiality prevent school counselors from reporting dangerous comments by students. "There are a lot of disenfranchised people mad at the system, but that doesn't mean they're all going to turn to violence," Koch said. "We can look backward, but experts aren't saying how hard it is to predict things like this.. .the less specific a threat is, the harder it is to intervene." "Most people with mental disorders are not violent. I'm afraid those types of people, and international students, will be stereotyped unfairly [because of what's happened in Virginia]. They just have a tougher time with things," Koch said. Koch also mentioned that counselors nation-wide have seen an increase in the number of young people experiencing the effects of broken homes, substance or physical abuse, and trauma. Facts • Of those responsible, only about 5 percenl were mentally ill or deemed unknowing of the consequences, including a few rare instances of young children picking up a gun and firing it. In 2000, a 6-year-old boy shot a peer in Michigan, raising concerns that such a young child could have access to a gun, figure out how to fire it, and be capable of killing a friend. • Nineteen of 36 shootings in the last 10 years have taken place in the spring, and the mean age of the killers is 14. All but five have been teenagers. • An overwhelming percentage of the shooters were described as antisocial or suffering from some type of personal stress. At least •four had undergone recent break-ups, one was involved in a gang, and three killed for religious reasons. In 1997, a 16-year-old boy responsible for killing two studenis and his mother was described as a "Satan-worshipper." Later that year, three were killed when a 14- year-old opened fire on a prayer circle at his school in Kentucky. • Another small percentage is made up of seemingly normal students unable to deal with their anger. At least seven shootings in the last 10 years have ended with the shooter committing suicide. Students share reactions to Virginia Tech tragedy Interviews by Jonathon Svendsen • "I felt a liule unsafe. 1 think there can be lonely people who can do drastic things." -Jacqueline Mients, senior • "I feel there's enough people on campus who are caring enough that someone's depression or anger won't get that far." -Lauren Pareigat, senior • "Bethel has a really supportive environment." -Amy Arends, freshman • "1 think it's just a mailer of doing our best to keep our eyes open to those who are in need of prayer or a friend." -Mary Velasco, sophomore • "I don't think it could happen here," -Patrick Dynan, fresh man • "I feel safe here at Bethel." -Seth Anderson, sophomore Students at Liberty University in Virginia urge forgiveness of Virginia Tech gunman Liberty student givesn insight into fallout effect on Virginia campuses By Anna Husted Chrislian students across the United Stales reacted to the shootings at Virginia Tech with similar motives as students who are not Christians, bul ihey slood oul in prayer and forgiveness above others. Holly Roush, a student at Liberty University, a Chrislian college in Lynchburg, Va., roughly 70 miles from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va,, said the reaction of the students in the dormitory where the first shooling took place was described as shock and an "inability to react during lhe situation and to comprehend the extent of the situation." Many schools had memorial services for those who died, and Liberty look a special blood drive specifically for those injured during the attack. The mother of Cassie Bernall, a victim at Columbine High School, spoke at Liberty's convocation service on April 20 concerning those who have died in school shootings. Although the nation observed a mo- mem of silence at 11 a.m. on April 20, and people offered up prayer in a time of need for the families of ihose killed, Christians' concerns go beyond lhe nation's. "Christian sludents are equally concerned for the family of the guy lhat committed the murders along with the victims," Roush said. She also described Liberty's atmosphere as forgiving following the initial sense of fear. "Since [the shootings], sludents from multiple campuses.. .have shown respect by wearing colors of Virginia Tech (orange and maroon)," Roush said. "It will be interesting to see how it continues after the media dies down, to see if people are more condemning or if the Chrislian spirit in the community will live on." Liberty University has a great sense of concern for those directly affected by the shootings and a motivation to speak up and tell others about the need for God.
Object Description
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Alternative Title | The Bethel Clarion |
Edition (Vol. No.) | Vol. 82 No. 21 |
Date Published | April 26 2007 |
Decade | 2000 |
Academic Year | 2006 - 2007 |
Frequency | Weekly |
Notes | This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. |
Digital Collection | The Clarion: Bethel University's Student Newspaper |
Digital Publisher | Bethel University |
Editor | Feltmann, Pamela |
Contributors | Streeter, Cory (News Editor); Westlund, Nicolle (Views Editor); Ekbom, Doug (Culture Editor); Sanny, Maria (Sports Editor); Helmke, Alexander (Layout Editor); Green, Stephanie (Assistant Layout Editor); Husted, Anna (Photo Editor); Gibson, Laura (Copy Editor); Lueth, Olivia (Copy Editor); Kelly, Aaron (Business and Advertising Manager); Wisner, Marie (Administrative Advisor); Alsdurf, Phyllis (Academic Advisor); Reed, Scott (Academic Advisor) |
Location |
United States Minnesota Saint Paul |
Time Span of Publication | Newspaper published from 1921 through present day |
Copyright | Reproduction or distribution of these files is permitted for educational and research purposes with proper attribution to the Bethel Digital Library. No commercial reproduction or distribution of these files is permitted under copyright law without the written permission of Bethel University Digital Library. For questions or further information on this collection, contact digital-library@bethel.edu. |
Type | text |
Format | image/jpeg |
Physical Dimensions | 12.5 x 23 |
Original Collection | Printed paper copies of original newspaper in the collections of the Bethel University Library and the History Center: Archives of the Baptist General Conference and Bethel University. |
Original Publisher | Bethel University |
Transcript | News Christianity Today CEO visits campus -page 8 Sports Men's volleyball triumphs at nationals -page 9 Sports Softball nears end of season -page 10 nznaiiBi Thursday, April 26,2007 Volume 82 • Number 21 Photo by Phil Mach Professors at Virginia Tech expressed concern over student Seung Hui Cho's creative writing stones because of their violent nature. Professors at Bethel are questioned about how violent is too violent in creative writing? Cho Seung-Hi's history of violent writing raises overall concerns over creativity vs. instability debate Professors share how they know when violent writing crosses the line By Sarah Doss In the days following the Virginia Tech tragedy, the violent writings of shooter Cho Seung-Hi have been extensively analyzed and reported. The same question lingers: Should faculty have taken more action when these writings emerged in the classroom? The severe degree of violent imagery displayed in Cho's short stories and plays was enough to draw concern from- faculty members at Virginia Tech, but should the mere presence of violence in a student's writing be enough Teople tend to draw on traumatic experiences in their writing, but representations of violent imagery ing signs. -Mark Bruce writer. "The mortality rate of characters in freshmen and sophomore writings is at an astonishing high," Horstman said, "but this of course doesn't mean that these students are terrible people, it just mainly deals with issues with craft. They don't know how to end the story, so they kill off the character." Only certain cases leave faculty to view a student's use of violence as more than self-expression. "There have been some students whose use of violence bothered me," Horstman said, "but it to cause concern? In writing classes where students are encouraged to explore their emotions, the line between fiction and realistic threat isn't easy to discern. This event has begun to cannot be seen specifically as warn raise such questions for the creative writing faculty at Bethel, who, by the nature of what they teach, are occasionally exposed to the darker thoughts and attitudes of their students. "For students to be able to articulate their experiences, they have to feel comfortable to explore their emotions," said Joey Horstman, associate professor and department chair of English, "and that sometimes leads to uses of violence." In creative writing classes, students are told to draw on their feelings and experiences, which often opens opportunities for writings that display situations of violence and brutality. "People tend to draw on traumatic experiences in iheir writing," said Mark Bruce, assistant professor of English, "but representations of violent imagery cannot be seen specifically as warning signs." Use of violence in writing might also be the sign of a novice was mostly the kind of violence they used." Another red flag for faculty is when the student's attitude on paper extends out of the classroom, as was the case with Cho. "One of the only ways I would be worried is if these kinds of violent writings connected with violent actions," Bruce said. The difficulty for professors is finding ways to encourage student's creativity while also keeping violence to a minimum. One tactic facully use is io give boundaries on students' use of violence. "I say 'no dead babies,'" Horstman said, "and some professors tell their studenis not to kill off more than one character per story." Professors who teach creative writing must walk a fine line, encouraging self-expression while protecting the besl interests of their students. The task seems impossible, especially following the events at Virginia Tech, but the facully at Bethel will continue to teach and protect their students to the best of their ability. Analysis Statistics show downward trend in school shootings Over the last decade school violence still low compared to other forms of violence By Monique Champeau Though the Virginia Tech shootings were the deadliest in America's history, it actually marks a downward trend in school violence over the last 10 years. Overall, there have been only 36 incidents of school violence in the last decade, Without downplaying the events on April 16, the number of school shootings compared with the total number of schools in the country shows the events are infrequent. This number is also low compared to other types of violence in society. "This type of unpredictable 'snapping' is rare... it's like a plane crash. Driving is safer than flying, but people always hear about plane crashes," said Jim Koch, director of Counseling Services. "It's always big news...and people want that moment in the spotlight. All this news is reinforcing how much attention you can get, and it brings up old wounds for a loi of people." Perhaps the most memorable event was the 1999 murder of 15 students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. It received extensive press attention because the students, 17 and 18, had plotted to kill over 500 students and blow up the entire school after at least a year of detailed planning. But this type of planned attack is a rarity. Thanks to added security and programs designed to allow students to talk openly about personal struggles, more incidents have been stopped before they're carried out. At Bethel, issues of confidentiality prevent school counselors from reporting dangerous comments by students. "There are a lot of disenfranchised people mad at the system, but that doesn't mean they're all going to turn to violence," Koch said. "We can look backward, but experts aren't saying how hard it is to predict things like this.. .the less specific a threat is, the harder it is to intervene." "Most people with mental disorders are not violent. I'm afraid those types of people, and international students, will be stereotyped unfairly [because of what's happened in Virginia]. They just have a tougher time with things," Koch said. Koch also mentioned that counselors nation-wide have seen an increase in the number of young people experiencing the effects of broken homes, substance or physical abuse, and trauma. Facts • Of those responsible, only about 5 percenl were mentally ill or deemed unknowing of the consequences, including a few rare instances of young children picking up a gun and firing it. In 2000, a 6-year-old boy shot a peer in Michigan, raising concerns that such a young child could have access to a gun, figure out how to fire it, and be capable of killing a friend. • Nineteen of 36 shootings in the last 10 years have taken place in the spring, and the mean age of the killers is 14. All but five have been teenagers. • An overwhelming percentage of the shooters were described as antisocial or suffering from some type of personal stress. At least •four had undergone recent break-ups, one was involved in a gang, and three killed for religious reasons. In 1997, a 16-year-old boy responsible for killing two studenis and his mother was described as a "Satan-worshipper." Later that year, three were killed when a 14- year-old opened fire on a prayer circle at his school in Kentucky. • Another small percentage is made up of seemingly normal students unable to deal with their anger. At least seven shootings in the last 10 years have ended with the shooter committing suicide. Students share reactions to Virginia Tech tragedy Interviews by Jonathon Svendsen • "I felt a liule unsafe. 1 think there can be lonely people who can do drastic things." -Jacqueline Mients, senior • "I feel there's enough people on campus who are caring enough that someone's depression or anger won't get that far." -Lauren Pareigat, senior • "Bethel has a really supportive environment." -Amy Arends, freshman • "1 think it's just a mailer of doing our best to keep our eyes open to those who are in need of prayer or a friend." -Mary Velasco, sophomore • "I don't think it could happen here," -Patrick Dynan, fresh man • "I feel safe here at Bethel." -Seth Anderson, sophomore Students at Liberty University in Virginia urge forgiveness of Virginia Tech gunman Liberty student givesn insight into fallout effect on Virginia campuses By Anna Husted Chrislian students across the United Stales reacted to the shootings at Virginia Tech with similar motives as students who are not Christians, bul ihey slood oul in prayer and forgiveness above others. Holly Roush, a student at Liberty University, a Chrislian college in Lynchburg, Va., roughly 70 miles from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va,, said the reaction of the students in the dormitory where the first shooling took place was described as shock and an "inability to react during lhe situation and to comprehend the extent of the situation." Many schools had memorial services for those who died, and Liberty look a special blood drive specifically for those injured during the attack. The mother of Cassie Bernall, a victim at Columbine High School, spoke at Liberty's convocation service on April 20 concerning those who have died in school shootings. Although the nation observed a mo- mem of silence at 11 a.m. on April 20, and people offered up prayer in a time of need for the families of ihose killed, Christians' concerns go beyond lhe nation's. "Christian sludents are equally concerned for the family of the guy lhat committed the murders along with the victims," Roush said. She also described Liberty's atmosphere as forgiving following the initial sense of fear. "Since [the shootings], sludents from multiple campuses.. .have shown respect by wearing colors of Virginia Tech (orange and maroon)," Roush said. "It will be interesting to see how it continues after the media dies down, to see if people are more condemning or if the Chrislian spirit in the community will live on." Liberty University has a great sense of concern for those directly affected by the shootings and a motivation to speak up and tell others about the need for God. |
Language | English |
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