April 20, 2007

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

In light of the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, what do you think can be done to prevent incidents like this in the future at schools? (Asked at Panda Express, San Felipe and Silver Creek)

“Officials should be aware that lots of college students suffer from depression and don’t seek help because they are afraid people will think they are crazy. Educate students to be more open with their professors; that it is okay to talk with them.”

Kuba Moiwa, 24
Evergreen
Student at Western College


“I think there should be a system or method allowing someone to report strange behavior. It’s evident that this young man had problems. It’s too difficult to do after the fact. Schools need to act faster than they do and provide [mental] help for them.”

Ray Olson, 68
Walnut Creek
Retired


“I think the faculty should look into things better. I don’t think they did, or did enough about him. After the shootings people around him said that he didn’t want to associate with anyone and he had problems. When a school knows there are problems, it needs to act on it. Virginia Tech let it go too long before they did something.”

Lorraine Olson, 91
Evergreen
Retired


“I think the school districts are doing a wonderful job trying to educate their faculties, staff and children on how to handle those types of situations. I think it’s hard to prevent them. This man had some mental health issues. There were red flags, and the school tried to get him mental help. But he and many others don’t get the help they need. And even here, there’s not enough mental help assistance community wide.”

Connie Brown
Evergreen
Homemaker


“I think colleges really need to have lockdown procedures like elementary and high schools. That procedure might have saved a number of these people. You can’t prevent these kinds of tragedies because you can’t see into people’s minds. Most people look normal and you can’t tell that they might end up ‘going postal. ‘"

Susan Schubert
Evergreen
Administrative assistant for Evergreen Valley Church


“I don’t really think there’s anything we can do to prevent these kinds of things. But there are outreach programs, activities and mentors that people can use to help alleviate their problems and learn to manage their anger. I think the incident in Virginia might have been preventable if he had acquaintances and friends to help him out and make his life better. And, the gun control laws in Virginia are too easy.”

Henah Cabaña, 19
Milpitas
Evergreen College student