[Cwgrad-announcements] FW: Occupational hazards

[Amanda J Labagnara]

Dear All,





This article, from today's LA Times, brought back memories of a frightening,
volatile, and intimidating student we had some years ago in CRWT.  This
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 immeditately institute some effective programs to closely
track, counsel, and closely monitor disturbed and potentially violent
students--
 
"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.
 
 
Several students and professors who had seen Cho's poetry, plays and fiction
from 2005 described it as filled with graphic violence.

Lucinda Roy, chairwoman of the English department, worried about his
stability and urged him to seek counseling at the school. He apparently did
not.

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.

"I couldn't allow him to destroy my class," she said.

Roy agreed to teach Cho in a private tutorial setting, Giovanni said.

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.  (Pamala's personal comment:  Tell
it, Nikki!  Amen, amen!  Only one life to live!!!)

"I think he liked the idea that he was a scary guy," Giovanni said. "Some
people like that. That's how they define themselves."


Maurya Simon

Professor 
Department of Creative Writing
University of California Riverside
900 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92521-0318

TEL. (951) 827-2006 (office)

FAX: (951) 827-3619 
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