Debate: Safety of US campuses

On Monday, a crazed gunman opened fire in a dormitory and classroom at Virginia Tech University on Monday, killing 33 students and wounding another 21 before he was killed.

The Virginia Tech police have identified the shooter as a 23-year-old South Korean named Cho Seung Hui, an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major.

They say Cho's first victim was a woman known to him. They have also confirmed that the same weapon was used in both the shootouts at the university.

According to reports, the state university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre (1,052-hectare) campus, beginning at about at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.

On CNN-IBN’s show India 360 students from Chennai and Bangalore who wish to pursue higher studies in the US came together with Executive Director, United States Education Federation of India with host Sagarika Ghose to discuss - How safe are American college campuses?

India reacts to shootout

The shootout at Virginia Tech University has sparked off diverse reactions here in India. Though students’ say there will still go on to study in the US, their families are very worried about their children’s life after Monday’s incident.

They said random incidents like these should not pose as a hindrance to their career.

“It is unfortunate that the incident has happened. But I will still go to the US to study because of the quality of education, “ said an aspiring student from Bangalore.

VIRGINIA GUN LAWS

Any state resident over the age of 18 can walk into a gun shop and purchase a weapon on the spot - subject to an instant criminal check.

Even individuals who fail the background check may buy a weapon if the sale takes place away from a licensed gun store.

No training or license is required to own a gun and there is no 'cooling off' period to help prevent crimes of passion.

Machine guns such as AK-47s and Uzis are as easy to buy as hunting rifles.

In New Mexico there are no restrictions on the number of guns state residents can purchase at any one time.

In Wyoming it is perfectly legal to sell a handgun to a child.

Nandkrishan, who is planning to go study in the US, said he had to go through a lot of anxious moments on Monday because his friend studies in Virginia Tech.

“When it was confirmed that he was in a different campus, we were all very relieved,” recalls Nandkrishan.

Should students still go?

Professor Jane E Schukoske assured that there is nothing to be worried, and campuses are very safe.

“Students do understand that this was a random incident. US campuses pay a lot of attention to security. There is always good screening,” she said.

When asked why the University couldn’t pick up that one student who was behaving in a strange way before this incident happened, Jane refused to comment and said, “I am unfamiliar with the incident at Virgina Tech.”

Indians students in US

India sends the largest number of international students to the US. But American university officials are hoping that concerns raised by the Virginia Tech killings won't slow down student enrolments from India.

Akshaya, a student form Chennai gave a first hand account of what happened before Monday’s incident.

She spoke to her cousin who is currently studying in Virginia Tech University said that it wasn’t the first time a security alert was sounded in the University.

“There was bomb threat that was sounded on the same campus two days ago,” she said.

She added that students were informed by mails that they needn’t come to University on Monday. So students who didn’t check their mails in the morning ended up going to college.

Screening procedure strict?

“All universities are interested in knowing the health history of applicants at the time of admissions. I feel university security committees will now look at any measures that they can take to prevent similar incidents further,” Jane said.

But can such an incident happen again or is it just luck of the draw?

“There are random bad acts in many places across the world. And US university campuses are generally safe,” she said.

She added that there are crime statistics available for students who would like to look into the issue.

“It depends on particular universities. But I imagine all of them ban weapons on campus,” Jane said.

Seek out support groups

What kind of advise would you give to Indian students who are leaving their homes and going abroad live a residential life in an American university campus?

“There are excellent support systems in US university campuses especially for International students. There is an international student office, there are student groups that provide moral support, there are also medical heath facilities on campus. It is important that students connect with other students and get integrated into the community,” Jane said.

Jane was asked that if a student came to her and said he/she had got admission into Virginia Tech University, but was having second thoughts, what would she say?

“I’d say Virginia Tech is an excellent institution. It is really unfortunate that this event happened and we all condemn it. We can be sure that Virginia Tech will do all it can in terms of security in the future, “Jane said.

CAMPUS CARNAGE
	October 2006: West Nickel Mines School, Pennsylvania Ten girls’ are shot by truck driver Charles Roberts. Five girls die. Roberts kills himself
	March 2005: Red Lake High School, Minnesota Seven people gunned down by a 16-year-old. Student shoots himself later.
	October 2002: School of Nursing, University of Arizona Student opens fire, kills three professors. Shoots himself later.
	January 2002: Appalachian School of Law, Virginia Dismissed student kills dean, professor and another student. Gunmen killed themselves later.
	August 1996: University of Texas, Austin Charles Whitman kills 13. Thirty-one others were wounded. Whitman had killed his mother and wife the night before.