A weekly publication by Loras College students
Vol. 90, Issue 15
April 19, 2012
my lorian.com
illustration by EMILY FULL
Bullets to bookbags: Are you protected? The are some commonalities among school shootings that took place from 1974 to 2000 by RAJENDRA THAKURATHI co-executive editor
As America gets mired in wars with other countries, a war remains at home in school playgrounds and classrooms. Unlike committed military members, innocent school-goers get killed that creates grim faces on students and parents alike. There is pain, outrage and terror in the communities when these school shootings happen. Although school shootings have occurred in other countries, America experiences them more frequently than any other country. Two University of Southern California graduate students were shot by a gunman last week. Another gunman opened fire at a Christian university in Oakland, California, two weeks ago, killing at least seven people and wounding as many as three more. In February, a teen took a 22-caliber pistol and a knife to a high school in Chardon, Ohio, and fired 10 shots at a group of 5 deadliest U.S. School Shootings students, killing three of them. “There is no one l “Bath School to blame, but the culDisaster,” MI (1927): ture,” said psychol45 dead, 58 wounded ogist and director of counseling center at l Virginia Tech Loras, Michael Boyd. University, VA (2007): “America has a long 33 dead (including history of wars alhimself) though it’s not bloody and tyrant. Individul University of Texas ally, people think simin Austin, TX (1996): ilar to what the coun18 dead, 31 wounded try thinks. They like to have guns for a varil Columbine High ety of reasons: safety, School, CO (1999): 15 sports, or recreation,” he added. dead, 24 wounded “Moreover, people here are individualisl Red Lake High tic. They may think School, MN (2005): 10 of their family, but dead, 5 wounded rarely about their extended families and community,” he added. Some of it is also the “Did you win the fight?” mentality. After 12 students and a teacher were killed in the infamous Columbine shootings of 1999, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Dept. of Education established an inquiry that examined 37 similar shootings between 1974 and 2000. There were commonalities found in these incidents. Shootings were rarely sudden, impulsive acts. Frank Ochberg, professor of psychiatry at Michigan State University observed that “students don’t become mass killers overnight. They nurse their fantasies and leak evidence. Insults, threats and plans are posted on websites. Classmates often know when a student is ready to strike back. Parents hear rumblings.” Most perpetrators of school massacres struggle to cope with personal failure or significant losses prior to the attack. Researches reveal that there could be some other potential factors like bullying and revenge, mental illness, exposure to violent films and video games, drugs and access to guns, to mention a few.
continued on page 4
The Big Dance The Dance Marathon Committee hopes for a smooth evening with high energy, high fundraising totals and, of course, a few surprises raising committee, have tried a swath of new ideas to stir up involvement. The “Ask Addison” campaign and flash mobs Dance Marathon is at it again, and staying with a trend across campus were just a couple of their efforts. During the dance, participants can expect to encounter such attractions seven years strong, their goals are higher than ever before. as the morale committee, whose sole purpose is to be over And there’s no reason to think they won’t achieve them. Dance Marathon 2012 is set to begin Friday at 8 p.m., last- the top and rambunctious throughout the night. Participants ing until 8 a.m. on Saturday. Those who signed up to par- will also encounter big inflatables, and a Best Buy booth, so even non-dancers will find ways to stay awake ticipate and raise money have something to and energized. work for: $135,000. But for the last week, it has come down to While the total money raised thus far is personal encouragement for each of the danca secret, junior Eileen Torpy, a member of While corporate ers. the Dance Marathon fundraising committee, “We’re making personal connections with sponsorship has said there are certain expectations for all the every dancer,” Van Dyn Hoven said. “Right improved, funds dancers. now we’re splitting up duties to make sure we “We hope every dancer can raise $150,” from dancers can reach all the dancers before Friday.” Torpy said. “This is through donations from Van Dyn Hoven has made an effort online as have declined. family, friends, wherever they can scrounge well, in an effort to bolster enthusiasm, by sharup the money.” Nicole Myers ing stories from just a few of the patients who Reaching the goal will be difficult, but DM president will benefit from the mega fundraiser. They starting off early and often worked into hope that by revealing some of those receiving the committee’s favor. Between 27 corpothe money, further connections can be made to rate sponsors and six more mini-marathons, the cause. money has started flowing in, but to reach “A lot of the first time dancers struggle to feel connected,” the goals, more is needed. said Torpy. “We hope that by sharing some of their stories, “It’s definitely been a challenge,” said Dance Marathon President Nicole Myers. “We’ve done the same things, but they’ll feel more invested in the cause.” Van Dyn Hoven uses Dance Marathon’s Facebook page just a bit better (than last year).” to share her videos, and the team plans on integrating social While corporate sponsorship has improved, Myers said funds from dancers have declined from last year’s numbers. media not only in the pre-marathon fundraising, but even “We keep getting a lot of donations in, and we’re hopeful during the dance, albeit for a limited time. “I was pushing for us to use Twitter last year,” Myers of hitting the goal,” said Myers. “We will have to wait until said. “With it being at night, we try to keep the time a secret. the night of to see the final numbers.” To increase dancer participation leading up to the big night, continued on page 4 Torpy and Julie Van Dyn Hoven, two members of the fund-
by NICK JOOS
co-executive editor
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And the winner is ... turn to page 2 to hear from the new Student Union president