The Index Eutxia Swzein Dokei
Volume LXXII, No. 4
February 2011
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Tragedy in Tucson Ryan Blake ‘11 On January 8, 2011, our nation was horrified to learn of the shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona that left six people dead and thirteen injured. Twenty-two year old Jared Loughner took a cab to a “Congress on Your Corner” event, where he proceeded to open fire. Among those killed were a federal judge and nine year old Christina Green, granddaughter of former Phillies pitcher and manager Dallas Green. Though only nine, Christina expressed an interest in politics, and had gone to the event to hear U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords speak. Congresswoman Giffords was critically injured in the shooting, having sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The Tucson tragedy has left Americans with many questions. First and foremost, what can be done to help ensure that nothing like this ever happens again? Loughner was exhibiting signs of blatant instability and irrational behavior long before January 8th. The warning signs were there. Could measures have been taken to preempt his deadly rampage? Loughner’s classmates and teachers repeatedly expressed their concerns about his presence in the classroom at Pima Community College, where he was disruptively shouting nonsensical questions, insulting classmates and teachers, and convincing some that he posed a physical threat. Campus police had to intervene seven times before he was finally suspended, pending psychological counseling. But Jared Loughner never threatened anyone specifically, and the school followed the strict protocols refined in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre: protecting the college community, but also safeguarding the rights of the individual until he is judged to be an imminent danger to himself or others. Unfortunately, there is a nebulous aspect to that modus operandi, leading one to speculate – should the college have notified the authorities? Could that possibly have prevented this heartbreaking atrocity? We’ll never know, but we do know that Loughner was deeply disturbed for at least a few years prior to the shooting, yet he did not receive the mental healthcare he so desperately needed. While Loughner was slipping through the cracks, he was slipping into a deranged world of hatred and violence. There has been much speculation about what pushed Loughner over the edge. He began fixating on Representative Giffords after she didn’t respond to an incoherent question he asked her at a previous event. The only thing we can be entirely sure of is that from all accounts, prior to January 8th, Loughner was a ticking time bomb. Should we, in the future, take more drastic measures when witnessing such abnormal behavior? Certainly, when there is a series of bizarre incidents, as there was with Loughner, the authorities should be notified.
When asked about the difficulties schools face in dealing with the psychology of their students, and what precautions Haverford takes to make sure a cry for help do not go unnoticed, Consulting School Psychologist Dr. Michael Reichert responded, “Laws make it very difficult to order help involuntarily, and often, even when it is ordered, as in the case of 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho, who went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech after he was released from an involuntary commitment to a state hospital, it is ineffective.” Dr. Reichert continued, “In the Tucson case, many noticed this young man’s deterioration, including the school, which suspended him until he sought help, and his father,
noticing boys who exhibit struggles, and getting appropriate supports to them in a timely manner.” Haverford’s School Counselor Mrs. Janet Heed added, “At Haverford, there is an emphasis on being supportive of all students. If a student has to go on medical leave, he will be supported throughout the process, and helped to reintegrate back into the community. The advisory system was established, in part, so that every student would have an advocate, and someone that would know them on a more personal level. There is also an Upper School support team consisting of the school counselor, the learning center, and the school psychologist.” She concluded by
Inside This Issue... Pg. 2, Letter from the President Pg. 3, Robotics Update Pg. 4, James Tarte on Basketball Fans Pg. 5, In-depth view on Sleep Deprivation Pg. 7-8, The Power of Social Media Pg. 9-11, Winter Sports Wrap-Ups Pg. 12, Artist of the Issue and Urinetown Preview And much more...
Photo Courtesy of Google who ran after him that very morning, but no one seemed able to take effective action. At Haverford, we have organized an extensive student support system that the school takes quite seriously. It begins with teachers who meet regularly to review students who may be showing signs of difficulty. We have also created a peer counseling program for Fourth and Fifth Formers, which trains boys to offer help to each other. In addition, the school has an advisory system in which every boy is assigned a teacher who is responsible for getting to know the student and communicating with his family.” Dr. Reichert closed by asserting, “When issues arise, teachers and advisors have been trained to turn to the school counselor, Mrs. Heed, whose role is to investigate and intervene, as needed. My own role has evolved over the 22 years I have been on staff, but I presently supervise the school’s counseling staff, and consult, in general, to the student services team. Overall, this network of supports and services is designed to catch a boy who might be struggling, and to intervene in whatever ways are necessary to help him. I am sure there are situations the system misses, but in my years at the school, the system has been very effective at
saying, “At Haverford, there is a commitment to mental health and having a strong support structure. Student health is a high priority.” Those are comforting words in these difficult times. Now, as the entire country closely follows the daily progress of Congresswoman Giffords, one wonders if security should be stepped up for politicians who speak at public forums. Though we know these types of shootings have occurred at other venues, political figures seem to be especially vulnerable. And as we pray for Representative Giffords’ complete recovery, we realize there is much to be done to prevent this type of incident from ever happening again. Several provocative questions remain. Do we want a wall between the public and public servants? Do drastic measures need be taken, or would a simple increase in the presence of uniformed officers help serve as a deterrent? Should gun laws be stricter, with more intense background checks? Finally, is it possible to mitigate the risks, without trampling over civil liberties? This is a discussion that will, no doubt, continue in the weeks and months ahead, hopefully leading to better insight and, perhaps, some resolution in the face of this terrible tragedy.
Above: Jared Loughner at his court hearing.
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