Whenever there is a mass shooting or a terrible act of violence, the incident seems a million miles away. Yet the recent shooting at Oikos University in Oakland – while only a one-hour drive from De Anza – seems so distant.
Former student One Goh, 43, opened fire in a classroom killing 7 people on April 2. There is speculation he was upset with administration for refusing to refund his tuition after he voluntarily withdrew in the fall. Speculation or not, this certainly isn’t cause for a “normal” person to go on a shooting rampage.
In all its horror and too-close-to-home sentiment, I still feel desensitized. Perhaps it is a natural defense mechanism? Or is it a desire to distance myself from such atrocity?
The quandary is this: we are not exempt from the possibility of violence at De Anza College, so one cannot afford to sweep under the rug the plethora of school shootings most of us have witnessed through the media over the years.
Besides the fact that no college can every really consider themselves exempt on principle alone, a similar tragedy was narrowly avoided at De Anza College in January 2001. A night before the planned attack, De Anza student Al DeGuzman was found in possession of explosive devices, guns, and specific plans for carrying out a Columbine-style massacre on our very own campus. Yes, here.
People tend to feel disgust for those who plot and commit such heinous crimes. So it is with a certain level of apprehension that I would tell people not to waste potentially productive thoughts in a haste to hang the perpetrator. In order for our society to heal, we need to develop a clear understanding as to why these things happen in the first place. Engaging both the community and the perpetrator (when possible) is essential.
DeGuzman was depressed. In fact he knew he was depressed from the age of 15, but he wasn’t diagnosed until he entered the jail system. In a November 2001 interview with La Voz, DeGuzman stated he was diagnosed and prescribed antidepressants upon entering jail and was placed on suicide watch. Alex Ionides reported, “He said that he decided to continue taking the medication even after being released from the mental health unit” because he felt so much better.
Even if DeGuzman was seriously depressed, homicidal tendencies are not normal. So can we blame depression alone? Not at all likely. It is when a person reaches their tipping point — a chain of events or circumstances that pile up — for something like this to happen.
Unlike Goh, DeGuzman never played out his fantasy in real life. We will never know if he actually would have committed his act of terror on the De Anza campus.
Communities can prevent these acts of violence by putting into place programs where students discuss and devise prevention methods together. Acts of violence against the innocent are a heart-wrenching reminder that we must at all times be observant of those around us and be aware that this type of violence could occur at any time.
Perhaps we all need to make an effort to approach the seemingly unapproachable, say hello to someone we don’t know, and instead of vocalizing how strange someone seems, make an effort to engage them in friendly conversation. Why would we want to be so kind to a potential murderer?
A simple act of compassion can break the chain of events leading to a potential school shooter and make a difference, not just in the life of the perpetrator, but – most importantly – lives of the innocent senselessly lost.
