March 31, 2009

Youth violence expert talks about 10th Columbine anniversary

"One way we try to understand tragedy is through how we memorialize the event," says J. William Spencer, an associate professor of sociology. "Even 10 years later, there is still a lot we can learn from how the victims and shooters were remembered and the debate over the shooters' memorials."

Spencer, along with Glenn W. Muschert, an associate professor of sociology at Miami University, will publish their analysis of media coverage in the American Behavior Scientist. Spencer and Muschert are editors of the April and May editions, "The Lessons of Columbine," which focus on the 10th anniversary of the shootings.

On April 20, 1999, two Columbine students killed 12 students and a teacher at the Littleton, Colo., high school before killing themselves. A few days after the event, crosses for the victims and the shooters were erected at a nearby park, and the crosses for the shooters sparked a national debate that was covered by the news media.

"Youth are supposed to be innocent and vulnerable, and so it's difficult for us to make sense or understand such tragedies when they commit acts of violence," Spencer says. "The shooting itself was a paradox that juxtaposed their status of youth against the atrocity they had committed. Until we can come to terms or make sense of this, I'm not sure if we'll have some long-term viable solution for youth violence."

Spencer and Muschert found two themes in their analysis.

"First, the people who felt the shooters should be memorialized in some way were the people who focused on their status of youth," Spencer says. "And second, those who felt the opposite of that focused on what they had done. It's that distinction that is at the heart of understanding the shooters themselves, and ultimately youth violence."

Even as people continue to attempt to understand what motivates youth to turn to violence, Spencer says it's important for all adults to find ways to engage young people today.

"It's clear that most parents want to connect with their children," he says. "Small things like reading to children or even watching television with them can pay big dividends later on. But some adults may not have the resources because they must work to put food on the table and pay bills. This is why programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and local community centers are so important."

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: J. William Spencer, (765) 494-4677, jspencer@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Journalists interested in a copy of the "The Contested Meaning of the Crosses at Columbine" article can contact Amy Patterson Neubert at 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

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