Yesterday NPR news was full of coverage of and reaction to the report issued by the Virginia governor-appointed panel that investigated the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA. I usually enjoy NPR’s coverage of issues because they tend to offer a big picture kind of view instead of focusing on minutae that is likely to create the biggest reaction from listeners. Their coverage of the Baker/Hamilton Commision report was a good example of what news coverage should be.
Yesterday’s coverage, instead, focused on the things the report says the univerist staff and police could have done better. Now, I am not saying I’m surprised that there were failings in their reactions that morning. The report goes on to say that even if they had reacted differently, it is unlikely that the whole incident could have been avoided in its entirely. I also think that it would be a horrible, horrible thing to believe that the release report yesterday was the first time the VA Tech administration, the campus police, and the governor’s office heard about those shortcomings.
What struck me as dangerous and poorly thought out was the constant reporting about the parents’ cries for firings of university officials. One victim’s mother urged the governor to “show some leadership” and fire Charles W. Steger, the university president. On NPR there was a father who seemed to have only read the negative parts of the report and came away with the impression that the university could have somehow avoided the whole violent episode.
I feel bad for the families who lost children and spouses that day. I feel bad for the whole campus. They have to find a way to get past the trauma they all experienced and live their lives knowing they could have been one of the victims. BUT, is firing a university president who has also survived this and gained valuable, irreplaceable hands on experience dealing with a crisis a logical move? No workshop or drill can compare with the educational elements that came with living through that day while in a position of responsibility. Steger has gained that experience and knwoledge in the hardest way possible.
University President Steger, hopefully, will never have to live through a day like that again. But if he does, he has insight and real world knowledge that his replacement cannot have. I commend Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for recognizing that firing staff now would not make the campus a better or safer place for students. Using Steger and other staff members as a scapegoat would not help things.
Resources:
- Full Report on Virginia State Website
- New York Times Topic page for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- NPR Day to Day coverage of VA Tech Report (Audio)
