Tech president discusses slaying aftermath in letter to campus
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Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger has sent an open letter to the university community following a student slaying last month in which he addresses some "troubling" ethnically-charged commentary about the suspected killer.
The letter, in which Steger also urges students, faculty and administrators to keep in mind that college campuses are still some of the safest places in the nation, takes issue with those who have used accused killer Haiyang Zhu's Chinese background to somehow disparage the school's other Asian students.
"Regrettably, I also find it necessary to address some troubling commentary directed to the university leadership via e-mail, on blogs, or in letters-to-the-editor," Steger wrote in the e-mail that went out last night.
"Virginia Tech is an open and accepting community including many races, ethnicities, and cultures from around the world. We believe firmly that this diversity enriches the educational experience of all of our students. There is no evidence to suggest this death was in any way ethnically motivated. Moreover, it is important to note the international student community at Virginia Tech has an outstanding law-abiding history and reputation. Compared to their percent of the student body, our international students generally are extremely under-represented in terms of offenses brought to the university's judicial system."
Zhu, a 25-year-old graduate student, is charged with first-degree murder, accused of beheading fellow graduate student Xin Yang in a campus coffee shop. Yang, 22, was also from China.
-- Rex Bowman
Reader Reactions
1. It is absolutely possible for a police officer or campus security guard to be at the scene in a minute. This is a college campus, it is very compact and easy to move from place to place.
2. He was a grad student, not a VT employee.
3. He was not undergoing pychological treatment, he had been seen once at the on-campus counseling center.
4. Just because in California it is very common for security cameras to be installed in multiple public places does not mean that a tiny coffee shop that is rarely busy on a secluded rural college campus in Virginia will have security cameras.
This is all common sense, basic knowledge of the facts/daily reading of reputable, national news sources and from someone who was on campus and is on campus.
Ohhh snap.
LETS ALL GET MAD AT EACH OTHER… AHHHH!
I merely pointed out the fact that you fit the definition of what is commonly referred to online as a “troll” and suggested a remedy for dealing with you and your ilk.
So you appointed yourself the official troll police? I don’t appreciate the personal attack on myself and the other poster. I would guess that you went to VT.
As a current undergrad at VT, I find a lot of these comments laughable. First off, I am from Richmond and attended school in the Fan where on any given day walking down the street by myself to my car I could have been in danger. Let’s not forget Richmond has, in the past, ranked fairly high on “Most Dangerous Cities” lists. Tech, on the other hand, is located in an idyllic small town surrounded by picturesque mountains and greenery. Of all the places I have lived and visited in my life, Virginia Tech is the most safe and secure. However, no matter what you do, a student population of nearly 30,000 is impossible to control and therefore it is impossible to predict certain behaviors. Surely if you took 30,000 people from Richmond (or just take VCU) and put them in a similarly secluded environment like Blacksburg, you are bound to have problems. That’s just the way it is. Add in recent history and the naturally serene atmosphere on campus and of course it will garner attention. This has nothing to do with the “type” of people at VT or the reasons people choose to study here, it’s just the way the world works and I think everyone should praise the administration for the commendable work they’ve done under such tough conditions. Everyone at Tech loves this school and town, why can’t others on the outside see that and just accept that bad things happen everywhere?
(Iknow, I know… I said DON’T feed them, but I just can’t help it!)
I didn’t say “don’t post”, I merely pointed out the fact that you fit the definition of what is commonly referred to online as a “troll” and suggested a remedy for dealing with you and your ilk. Just an observation. An accurate one at that.
Also Helen, you probably need to start looking for more credible news sources. That “working man’s news” is hardly credible. Looks more like a white power/ NeoNazi website if you ask me and that’s just wrong!
Helen- Use your noodle girlfriend.
I don’t see anyone suggesting it is about race. This is however at least the 3rd time today in this very thread you have suggested someone is.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney won’t release 911 tapes (if they even have anything to release) until after they have completed the investigation and go through the grand jury. It’s so they don’t compromise their evidence and risk losing the trial against this guy.
The autopsy report is not available yet, because autopsies take some time. They aren’t instant, believe it or not. Toxicology screens and other blood/tissue testing takes a significant amount of time to complete because they are sent to centralized state labs with hundreds of other cases coming in all the time. As with 911 tapes, it won’t be released until the Commonwealth’s Attorney is ready, so as not to compromise the case.
Who says Au Bon Pain has a surveillance video? I’m sure if they do that will eventually be seen, but just like the 911 tapes and autopsy, it won’t until the Commonwealth’s Attorney has lamented their case.
Finally, if you understood anything about the law, psychological files are CONFIDENTIAL, just like your medical files. No one can just walk down to your doctor’s office and demand to see your medical history. They cannot by law release any information concerning the nature of his contact or treatment. It can be subpoenaed for trial, but it cannot just be published in the RTD because you demand it.
Posted by ( 12steprevenge ) on February 04, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Folks, HJackson and Curls are what is commonly referred to as “trolls”.
Just tell us who made you comments moderator? In your lofty self-rightous view of the content of what others post don’t you realize if you don’t like the content of some posts you are not in any way being forced to read them. The Times Dispatch has made this available for all to utilize and we darn sure don’t need you to tell us what we can post. You need to get a life as your opinion of your judgement is much too high.
Well Curls, you’ve been voicing the same “thoughts” for weeks now and every time there is a slew of people who are ready to show that you’re not using your brain. Just stop already. I think we all know by now that you think VT is full of thugs, but won’t actually give anymore detail when asked.
I think you’re an internet thug.
I’m not interested in any more posts.
Was only voicing my thoughts/feelings and was not out to offend anyone. Sorry you feel that was my only reason for the responses - not so.
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