Virginia Tech massacre: Director discusses bullying
Amanda Crider
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: News
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After the Virginia Tech massacre, reports began to circulate that shooter Seung-Hui Cho was bullied by his classmates during high school.
These reports have led to conjectures that bullying could have been one of the underlying issues leading to the mass shooting.
Founder and President of Bully Free Systems, LLC and former Special Education Professor at Murray State, Allan Beane, has dedicated years of his life to the prevention of bullying by writing books, giving speaking tours and making television appearances related to the subject.
"Our son, Curtis, was bullied in seventh grade and in high school," Beane said. "Bullying contributed to his depression and anxiety and his need to turn to drugs at the age of 23. He took meth to release the pain of mistreatment and it killed him. He did not commit suicide. He had his car keys in his hand, trying to go for help. His life has been our inspiration. Preventing and stopping bullying in all environments is our mission and calling."
Beane said although many victims of bullying do not become violent, there is always the possibility that some victims might later show violent tendencies.
"Seung-Hui Cho was said to have been bullied in high school," Beane said. "This information has been minimized by the news coverage. "The right questions are being asked, but the guests on the news shows are not experts on bullying and they have not fully answered the questions.
"The fact that this boy was bullied must not continue to be minimized. I believe there is a possibility that bullying contributed to his state of mind. It is pretty obvious he was ill. Perhaps bullying enhanced his illness and pushed him over the edge … Even if he wasn't bullied in college, the fact he was unstable and perhaps has faced years of rejection, may have magnified any form of rejection or degrading while he was in college. I feel the bullying he experienced may have helped create a mix of toxic emotions and thoughts that pushed him over the edge."
These reports have led to conjectures that bullying could have been one of the underlying issues leading to the mass shooting.
Founder and President of Bully Free Systems, LLC and former Special Education Professor at Murray State, Allan Beane, has dedicated years of his life to the prevention of bullying by writing books, giving speaking tours and making television appearances related to the subject.
"Our son, Curtis, was bullied in seventh grade and in high school," Beane said. "Bullying contributed to his depression and anxiety and his need to turn to drugs at the age of 23. He took meth to release the pain of mistreatment and it killed him. He did not commit suicide. He had his car keys in his hand, trying to go for help. His life has been our inspiration. Preventing and stopping bullying in all environments is our mission and calling."
Beane said although many victims of bullying do not become violent, there is always the possibility that some victims might later show violent tendencies.
"Seung-Hui Cho was said to have been bullied in high school," Beane said. "This information has been minimized by the news coverage. "The right questions are being asked, but the guests on the news shows are not experts on bullying and they have not fully answered the questions.
"The fact that this boy was bullied must not continue to be minimized. I believe there is a possibility that bullying contributed to his state of mind. It is pretty obvious he was ill. Perhaps bullying enhanced his illness and pushed him over the edge … Even if he wasn't bullied in college, the fact he was unstable and perhaps has faced years of rejection, may have magnified any form of rejection or degrading while he was in college. I feel the bullying he experienced may have helped create a mix of toxic emotions and thoughts that pushed him over the edge."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Bob
posted 5/07/07 @ 7:48 PM CST
I could not agree anymore, yes what he did was wrong and horrible.
I too have been (a lot of the time) rejected, by people, teased now stop etc
I would be made fun of right in front of my teachers and they wouldn't do a thing. (Continued…)
Alan Eisenberg
posted 5/08/07 @ 3:01 PM CST
Thank you, Bob, for your honest feedback. I went to VA Tech and this story has touched me. I am also the victim of bullying growing up. It has led me to create a blogsite about the long term effects of bullying on adults (http://bullyinglte. (Continued…)
Calloway Co.
posted 5/15/07 @ 8:46 AM CST
I went to school with Curtis and NEVER saw him being bullied. He had plenty of friends and was successful in school. This is just another story of a parents blind eye to their child's problem and wanting to blame anything else. (Continued…)
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