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Since 1960 Volume 84, Issue 38
Short Trips
Gun Control
Should gun control laws be stricter post Virginia Tech? OPINION, p. 10
Places students can visit in one day INTROSPECT, p. 6
Daily Titan
Thursday April 19, 2007
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Titans to Remember Victims at Virginia Tech Far from the tragedy, CSUF sympathizes Professors, students and Greeks show support for families of those lost
Virginia Tech Killer Sends Video to NBC BY FLORANCE ChUNG
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Additional information has surfaced about the Virginia Tech shootings, helping officials shed light on the worst massacre in U.S. history. The gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior majoring in English, sent a package to nBC news between the first and second shooting, enabling officials to learn more about the shooter. Stamped at a Virginia post office at 9:01 a.m. ET Monday, the package contains a long, “rambling manifesto-like statement embedded with a series of photographs,” according to nBC news President Steve Capus. “It does not include any images of the shootings Monday, but it does include vague references, like ‘This didn’t have to happen,’” Capus said. Among the materials are 23 QuickTime video files showing Cho talking directly to the camera about his hatred of the wealthy, according to Capus. The package contained 29 photos he took of himself. In 11 of the pictures he aims handguns at the camera. He also expresses rage against
heathenism and Christianity. He began working on materials at least six days prior, according to Capus. He wanted revenge, but did not specify against whom. Gloved nBC security personnel handled the package as the network called the FBI. According to Capus, nBC would have probably received it sooner ex-
cept that Cho sent it to the wrong address and ZIP code. “This may be a very new, critical component of this investigation. We’re in the process right now of attempting to analyze and evaluate its worth,” said Col. Steve Flaherty, superintendent of Virginia State Police, in an AP interview Wednesday. Police are also busy at Virginia
AP PhOTO/NBC
GUNMAN - This video frame grab image taken from a video aired by NBC News on Wednesday, April 18 shows Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui.
Tech. Besides investigating the crime scene, the officers checked out a bomb threat at Burress Hall, which caused the building to be closed. “The threat targeted the university president but was unfounded,” said Police Chief Wendell Flinchum. The building was reopened, but many students were still rattled. One officer was seen escorting a crying young woman out of Burress Hall, telling her, “It’s OK. It’s OK,” according to The Associated Press. They searched his dorm room Tuesday and recovered, among other items, a chain, a combination lock and a digital camera. In an affidavit seeking the search warrant, police found a bomb threat note directed at engineering school buildings near Cho’s body, according to the nY Times. In a press conference Tuesday morning, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said that a 9-millimeter handgun and a 22-calibur handgun were recovered from norris Hall. Ballistic tests, conducted at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lab in Maryland, confirmed that one of SEE ShOOTER - PAGE 3
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AP PhOTO/MARY ALTAFFER
IN MEMORY - Sophomore Kenneth Erisman holds a candle as he pays his respects at a makeshift memorial at Drill field on the Virginia Tech campus Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in Blacksburg, Va.
p.m. at CSUF’s Memorial Grove, located between the swimming pool and the library. “Something tragic like this catches every campus off guard,” said Irene Umipig, secretary of Peer Health BY ALEKSANDRA WOJTALEWICZ University network. “We want to Daily Titan Staff Writer tell students that we are aware that news@dailytitan.com [such an event] can happen, so let’s take a moment to reflect on it.” Students at Virginia Tech wiped A number of professors have adaway tears, lit candles and mourned dressed the shooting during lecon campus for the 32 people killed tures to allow students to share their on Monday’s massacre committed thoughts. Overall, students express by 23-year-old English major Cho sadness for the victims and families. Seung-Hui. Classes have been canSome feel angry that someone celed for the remainder of the week. could commit such a massacre. Thousands of miles away at Cal “Just shoot yourself,” said biology State Fullerton, classes remain in major Desiree Romo, 23. “Leave the session, yet students have not forgot- innocent alone.” ten their fellow students at Virginia As CSUF students walked to and Tech. from classes, thoughts about their In an effort to reach out to their own safety filled their minds. Virginia Tech peers, the CSUF “Overall, I feel pretty safe,” said Greek system is “in the process of biology major Erin Garrett, 27. “I finalizing” what like how we have actions they will campus police take, said Juanita present. I’ve seen Razo, assistant them frequently ... we are aware [such dean of students around the caman event] can happen, overseeing Greek pus.” life. so let’s take a moment The university “A lot of our police is “conto reflect on it. members have tinuing with – Irene Umipig been collecting what we were Secretary of Peer Health messages and ofdoing,” said Lt. University Network fering condolencTom Gehrls. es,” Razo said. According to The Greek sysGehrls, there are tem as a whole four to five powill discuss what lice officers on actions they will take regarding the campus present every day, which is Virginia Tech shooting at Tuesday’s “an adequate amount for the envigoverning council meetings. Yet ronment.” “chapters on individual levels may The main focus of the university decide what they will be doing,” police is prevention of incidents like Razo said. the Virginia Tech shooting from ocThe Alpha Chi Omega sorority curring by responding to “anyone will be sending cards to their Vir- that needs help and sending them ginia Tech chapter. to get counseling services,” Gehrls Currently, the university as a said. whole will be participating in the CSUF currently has a communi“Orange and Maroon Effect” day cations system consisting of an inon Friday. Created by Virginia Tech ternal and external PA system and community, the day calls for people building marshals in each building across the nation to wear Virginia to direct people in case of an emerTech’s school colors – maroon and gency, Gehrls said. orange – to support the victims, As safety is in the back of every their families and the school. student’s mind, Gehrls assures that The Peer Health University net- students are safe at CSUF. “It is a work is also organizing a candlelight vigil for the victims and their families, and students at Virginia Tech. SEE SUPPORT - PAGE 4 The vigil will be held April 25 at 7
Titans Jumpstarting Literacy Among Kids CSUF students help low-income children succeed early in life BY JOANNA LAZARO
For the Daily Titan
news@dailytitan.com
Jumpstart Fullerton gives Cal State Fullerton students a chance to make a difference in the lives of children by taking an active role in their education. Jumpstart is a program where students are paired with a preschooler from the Headstart, which is a program that helps children from lowincome homes better prepare for
school. Three of the major program areas are school success, family involvement and future teachers. “It’s a wonderful program,” said Jumpstart Fullerton coordinator Shanda Barnett. “The children get valuable learning time in and outside the classroom.” The volunteers and the child participate in many activities including “One on One,” where the child and the partner read a story together. The goal of this activity is to teach the child more vocabulary and to help involve them in conversation. “The one on one relationship gives the children a chance to bond with us and with the other volunteers,” said najia Aboabdo, 20. “The most important aspect of this though is to
help boost literacy.” Another form of interaction is “Circle Time” where the children and core partners do various activities in a larger group. The activities include sing-alongs and learning how to spell the child’s name. “We want the core partners to get everyone involved, so that they can have a more hands experience on what its like to work with children in the classroom,” Barnett said. Currently, Jumpstart has 50 students and over two semesters the volunteers must complete 300 to 400 hours with the children. According to Barnett, to participate in Jumpstart a student does not have to be a Child and Adolescent major, but they do have to take CAS
140/141 or CAS 394/464 to sign up for Jumpstart. These classes can be counted as an elective for nonmajors. “It’s a great experience and you get credits,” said sophomore Mario Davis, 19. “Some of these children come from low income homes, so it feels good because you are not only helping the children but also the community.” The three Headstart centers that students work closely with are Topaz in Fullerton, Brea Headstart and Placentia Headstart. “There is a lot of time that is spent in the classroom,” Barnett said. “But SEE READING - PAGE 5
NEXT WEEK Sports
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL RECAPS
BATTER UP! Gamers of men and women on the diamond
COURTESY OF ShANDA BARNETT
HELPING HAND - A volunteer works with a participant in the
Jumpstart program, which gives students a chance to teach the young.
WEAThER FOR THE RECORD April 18: The photo for the linguistics symposium was incorrectly credited. Mary Covert took the photo.
TODAY
TOMORROW Sunny Skies high: 71 Low: 51
Showers high: 58 Low: 49