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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear All,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This article, from today's <i><span style='font-style:italic'>LA
Times</span></i>, brought back memories of a frightening, volatile, and
intimidating student we had some years ago in CRWT. This</span></font>
student was much like Cho, and it's scary how similarly I (and other of our
CRWT faculty) dealt with him in the ways described in the article. If
anything "good" comes of this terrible tragedy, may it be that
colleges and universities <i><span style='font-style:italic'>immeditately</span></i>
institute some effective programs to <i><span style='font-style:italic'>closely</span></i>
track, counsel, and closely monitor disturbed and potentially violent
students--<br>
<br>
"Well-known poet Nikki Giovanni, who taught him creative writing, observed
him in the class with dark sunglasses and a ball cap jammed down over his face.
He turned in assignments she found disturbing. Sometimes he snapped unwanted
cellphone photos of classmates. Students stopped showing up for class, telling
her, "The guy's really creepy." At one point she had guards stationed
nearby.<br>
<br>
<br>
Several students and professors who had seen Cho's poetry, plays and fiction
from 2005 described it as filled with graphic violence.<br>
<br>
Lucinda Roy, chairwoman of the English department, worried about his stability
and urged him to seek counseling at the school. He apparently did not.<br>
<br>
Giovanni, the former creative writing instructor, said she took some of Cho's
writing to Roy and told her that she could no longer teach him.<br>
<br>
"I couldn't allow him to destroy my class," she said.<br>
<br>
Roy agreed to teach Cho in a private tutorial setting, Giovanni said.<br>
<br>
Roy gave Cho an A for the semester. Giovanni thinks he got the grade not for
talent or effort, but because he was "intimidating" — and that
it was decided it was best to keep him happy. <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>(Pamala's personal comment: Tell it, Nikki! Amen,
amen! Only one life to live!!!)</span></i><br>
<br>
"I think he liked the idea that he was a scary guy," Giovanni said.
"Some people like that. That's how they define themselves."</p>
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<br>
<div>Maurya Simon</div>
<br>
<div>Professor </div>
<div>Department of Creative Writing</div>
<div>University of California Riverside</div>
<div>900 University Avenue</div>
<div>Riverside, CA 92521-0318</div>
<br>
<div>TEL. (951) 827-2006 (office)</div>
<br>
<div>FAX: (951) 827-3619 </div>
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