Normally, creative writing students write detailed poems or short stories and give them to their professors and students to comment on them.
But what does a professor do if he or she were handed an assignment with extremely graphic and violent content?
It was reported that the gunman in the Virginia Tech shootings this week wrote disturbing words that read,
“Must kill Dick. Must kill Dick. Dick must die. Kill Dick.” He was referred to counseling services and had a history of antisocial behavior.
Cal State Long Beach has ways of noticing these types of behavior and professors are instructed to follow certain procedures when dealing with these situations.
Stephen Cooper, a creative writing professor at CSULB, said that although he is not a psychologist, he said he knows the difference between honest, imaginative writing and cries for help or warning signs.
“Certainly, our faculty take our obligations very seriously for the welfare and safety of our students and the whole university community,” Cooper said.
Cooper said that as educated professionals in creative writing, the department is always trying its best to produce honest creativity.
“If my colleagues saw a piece that was a cry for help or a warning,” Cooper said, “we must be willing to take steps to refer to resources, such as psychological services or police, if necessary.”
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at CSULB was not available for comment.
But according to CAPS’s Web site, if the instructor wants to interact, the instructor should request to see the student in private, acknowledge his or her observations and perceptions, express concern for the student, listen carefully to what is troubling the student, attempt to identify the student’s problem or concern, and comment directly on what he or she has observed without interpreting or judging. If the teacher feels too heavy a burden, the instructor should refer to CAPS.
The Web site also states that a faculty member should call University Police if he or she believes the student in question is in danger, may cause harm to him or herself, is disruptive or is out of control.
Students at CSULB said that it would be hard to determine whether someone is as troubled as the Virginia Tech gunman was.
Sophomore Sean Bernhoft said he was surprised when he found out that the gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, wrote the “must kill Dick” words.
“I know that his teacher sent him to student counseling, which I thought was a good move,” Bernhoft said. “But I suppose if it was really that violent, they should have helped him more.”
Junior communications major Kaley Lockshaw said she was shocked when she learned that the gunman said he had an imaginary girlfriend.
“I’d probably tell somebody about it,” Lockshaw”said.
Distressed Student Warning Signs
- Inability to concentrate
- Confusion
- Persistent worrying
- Social isolation
- Increased irritability
- Bizarre behavior
- Missed classes / assignments
- Procrastination
- Restlessness
- Disheveled appearance
- Mood swings
- Indecisiveness depression
– Counseling and Psychological Services
