vision2020
Re: Moscow suicide
The suicide was mentioned at the School Board meeting last night--and
coincidentally Police Chief Weaver was present at the meeting to
discuss the bomb threat last week at the high school and how it was
handled from the police perspective. Superintendent Fisk presented
the administration's part in the incident and fielded questions with
the Chief. The student's name was not mentioned, but then, no one
asked. It was more a general acknowledgement in the course of the
meeting that there was a tragedy at the high school today and the
thoughts and prayers of support were expressed for the family of the
student, as well as expressions of concern, sympathy and support for
students and staff who were/are struggling to deal with another blow
in a series that includes the Columbine HS disaster, the bomb threat,
and others.
Perhaps there was an issue of respect for the child's family in the
hours immediately after it became known--especially if few details
were known that would have helped anyone else understand
"why"--assuming there is any such thing. I agree that rumors can
cause trauma themselves and sometimes disastrous consequences, but I
would allow school and police officials a certain latitude of
judgment in the timing and content of announcements. At the
moment I certainly don't have enough information to conclude whether
that judgment was reasonably exercised in this case or not.
Mike Curley
> From: "bill london" <bill_london@hotmail.com>
> To: vision2020@moscow.com
> Cc: dpettit@lmtribune.com
> Subject: Moscow suicide
> Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 09:24:55 PDT
> Did you hear the rumors floating around Moscow last night (Tuesday
> night) about the suicide of a Moscow High student? John Cronin noted
> earlier on this list that he heard that same rumor. I did as well.
>
> So, to verify, last night I called the city editor of the Lewiston
> Morning Tribune (Diane Pettit). Yes, she had also heard the rumors,
> but was not able to verify this because (as I understand it) nobody in
> the Latah County Sheriff's Office or Moscow City Police or Moscow
> School District was willing to talk about this on the record. She
> assumed that someone would issue a press release today. So, nothing
> about the suicide (if there was one) appeared in the Tribune today.
>
> I don't think that is good enough. I think the public has a right to
> know this information and that it is the responsibility of the
> police/school to pass that info on as quickly as possible.
>
> The public needs to know if it is true or not. In this era of copycat
> suicides/violence by students, it is important for teachers/parents to
> know as soon as possible if there was a suicide.
>
> The rumors were flying, and the media was ready to print the truth. I
> think the local authorities need to make that truth available to the
> media as soon as they know it. Yes, and if that means establishing a
> meaningful communication system for contacts after 5pm, then let's get
> it together.
> BL
>
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