LETTER: Discuss trauma for education
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Professors, this letter is to you, on behalf of me and a number of students.
When I mentioned the shootings that happened at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, I felt like a freak, because I thought I might've been the only one who'd watched the news. I had three classes following the shooting and not one professor addressed the fresh massacre at NIU.
I find this to be irresponsible and inexcusable, as it is incumbent on the university to provide a safe environment for students to grow intellectually, personally, socially, etc. Although we have not had a shooting at Iowa State, the possibility is very real as school shootings have turned into a national trend and are getting closer to home. So please, try something to make us feel better.
In the class I decided to speak up in, I obviously caught the professor off-guard, and when this professor fell at a loss for words, a fellow student "informed" me that "to address this issue in every class would be irrelevant to the class material and would take away from our education, so you should seek counseling through the student center if you are having problems with this."
I took this objection sort of politely, and it seems a logical concern, but don't forget we are intellectuals at a prestigious university. I don't know of any major issue that has been reconciled without discussing it and considering a whole smorgasbord of opinions. It is not difficult for a professor to take five to 10 minutes to construct a quick activity that would consume no more than five to 10 minutes of class time to address the current catastrophes happening in the nation (school shootings).
For example, I thought it would be beneficial for one of my classes to brainstorm in groups of three or four to think of possible reasons of why school shootings happen, take those reasons and make them into an enthymeme or syllogism and then symbolize/discuss those arguments in class. That way we would have an interactive discussion about a major issue surrounding universities nationally and have a broader and deeper understanding of what students think causes school shootings.
An interactive discussion is excellent, especially for the students who feel disconnected from "the world," and it would give them a chance to vent in the classroom - potentially, those students could make a new friend.
To reiterate my point here, these school shootings are happening at academic institutions, not at grocery stores, department stores, etc. Please allow us to try to discover the impetus of these school shootings by letting us discuss them. This could help to reduce the frequency of these events nationally, reduce a chance of a shooting happening at Iowa State and help reduce the anxiety of students.
Some students of course are very strong-headed and opinionated. This could be seen as a catalyst for school shootings, but at least open it up for a facilitated discussion and see what happens. Maybe one of those "strong-headed" students will get his or her world rocked verbally and will have his or her perspective challenged or broadened by other students.
I realize this is a sensitive issue to discuss, but we are intellectuals and students. Most of us are capable of handling it. Can you please provide us with this opportunity?
Luke Royer
Senior
Political Science
When I mentioned the shootings that happened at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, I felt like a freak, because I thought I might've been the only one who'd watched the news. I had three classes following the shooting and not one professor addressed the fresh massacre at NIU.
I find this to be irresponsible and inexcusable, as it is incumbent on the university to provide a safe environment for students to grow intellectually, personally, socially, etc. Although we have not had a shooting at Iowa State, the possibility is very real as school shootings have turned into a national trend and are getting closer to home. So please, try something to make us feel better.
In the class I decided to speak up in, I obviously caught the professor off-guard, and when this professor fell at a loss for words, a fellow student "informed" me that "to address this issue in every class would be irrelevant to the class material and would take away from our education, so you should seek counseling through the student center if you are having problems with this."
I took this objection sort of politely, and it seems a logical concern, but don't forget we are intellectuals at a prestigious university. I don't know of any major issue that has been reconciled without discussing it and considering a whole smorgasbord of opinions. It is not difficult for a professor to take five to 10 minutes to construct a quick activity that would consume no more than five to 10 minutes of class time to address the current catastrophes happening in the nation (school shootings).
For example, I thought it would be beneficial for one of my classes to brainstorm in groups of three or four to think of possible reasons of why school shootings happen, take those reasons and make them into an enthymeme or syllogism and then symbolize/discuss those arguments in class. That way we would have an interactive discussion about a major issue surrounding universities nationally and have a broader and deeper understanding of what students think causes school shootings.
An interactive discussion is excellent, especially for the students who feel disconnected from "the world," and it would give them a chance to vent in the classroom - potentially, those students could make a new friend.
To reiterate my point here, these school shootings are happening at academic institutions, not at grocery stores, department stores, etc. Please allow us to try to discover the impetus of these school shootings by letting us discuss them. This could help to reduce the frequency of these events nationally, reduce a chance of a shooting happening at Iowa State and help reduce the anxiety of students.
Some students of course are very strong-headed and opinionated. This could be seen as a catalyst for school shootings, but at least open it up for a facilitated discussion and see what happens. Maybe one of those "strong-headed" students will get his or her world rocked verbally and will have his or her perspective challenged or broadened by other students.
I realize this is a sensitive issue to discuss, but we are intellectuals and students. Most of us are capable of handling it. Can you please provide us with this opportunity?
Luke Royer
Senior
Political Science
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