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On Wednesday morning, three college professors got up in Las Vegas and worked in Beam Hall, the home of the business school at the University of Nevada. One oversaw the study of Japan, another taught accounting, the third management of information systems.
All were killed, gunned down by a disgruntled professor who first came onto campus with a .9 mm pistol, 150 bullets and a vengeance.
Their deaths in the US mass shooting sparked calls Friday for gun control from teachers across the country — a group many look to for answers in the interim. of trouble and suffering. They demanded an end to the epidemic of gun violence that has left college campuses most vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors, a distinguished group of teachers, in a information called gun violence an “unacceptable national threat” and called for gun policy change.
“We are saddened by the sudden, horrific violence and murder on the campus of the college,” he wrote on X, first Twitter. “We call on our elected leaders to move forward with the actions that we know can begin to address our American gun violence epidemic.”
His voice joined others calling for reform in the days after the Las Vegas shooting, which tore through campuses and changed lives forever. Information about the shooting continued to emerge on Friday, including the identification of the third professor killed. Another teacher suffered life-threatening injuries. Police have identified the suspect in the shooting as Anthony Polito, a former teacher at East Carolina University who applied for a job at the University of Nevada and was rejected.
Here’s what we know so far:
Biden meets with UNLV students, community representatives
President Joe Biden on Friday mourned the victims of the deadly shooting at UNLV and again called on Congress to take tough measures for gun safety.
Biden opened his speech at a major event in Las Vegas by offering his prayers for the families of those killed in Wednesday’s shooting and praising police officers who put their lives in danger. to respond to such incidents. He said there have been more than 600 terrorist attacks in America this year.
“This is not normal, and we cannot allow it to become normal,” he said. “People have the right to feel safe, secure.”
Biden’s trip to Las Vegas was planned before Wednesday’s shooting, but while there he secretly met with college students and community leaders. The meeting was held at the carpentry training center before his speech on infrastructure.
In his speech, Biden said Congress should ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and enact other “reasonable” gun safety measures.
“You know, the Second Amendment doesn’t say you can own a gun and own any weapon,” he said.
Final exam, individual classes cancelled
UNLV President Keith Whitfield announced that in-person classes have been canceled for the rest of 2023, with final exams scheduled for next week.
“Due to the physical and emotional pain the university has endured, and due to the impact on campus facilities, we have decided that faculty and staff will continue to work remotely through the end of the calendar year,” Whitfield said.
The president said that the beginning of the winter, planned for December 19 and 20, will still be held, after listening to the students and their families expressing a “desire to come together.”
“The important time of commencement is the most special day in the university’s calendar, and in difficult times like this we can and should celebrate the fulfillment of the educational dreams of the graduates,” he said. said Whitfield.
Naoko Takemaru oversees Japanese research at UNLV
The Clark County Coroner’s office identified the last person killed in the shooting as Naoko Takemaro, 69, on Friday. Takemaro lived in Las Vegas and was an assistant professor at UNLV, teaching Japanese studies in Beam Hall, according to his career page on the university’s website.
“Takemaru taught all levels of the Japanese language, conversation, composition, grammar, culture, and Japanese-English translation,” the university wrote. “He also coordinates Japanese language programs at the university level. At UNLV, he oversees the entire Japanese studies program, and teaches upper-level courses in Japanese language, business culture.”
Patricia Navarro Velez studied accounting at UNLV
Patricia Navarro, 39, is an assistant professor of accounting at Beam Hall, according to her university staff page.
He received his PhD in accounting from the University of Central Florida, his master’s in accounting from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce campus.
Navarro analyzed information and assurances for cybersecurity, revealing internal weaknesses and data breaches.
“He was the recipient of the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students and the KPMG Foundation Minority Doctoral Students Scholarship from 2014 to 2019,” the university wrote. “Dr. Navarro’s teaching interests are in the field of information technology.”
Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang specializes in information systems
Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, was teaching at the university’s Beam Hall, along with his two colleagues who were killed, in the department of management, business and technology.
According to a statement on his staff page, the business professor earned a PhD and a master’s in information systems management from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s in business administration from the Texas A & M University, a master’s degree in computer science from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in oceanography from the National Taiwan Ocean University.
He has been a professor at UNLV since 2001, mainly teaching information systems management.
“My heart is broken for the family, friends, and loved ones of Dr. Navarro and Dr. Chang, and for all those affected by this senseless act of violence that has affected many physically and emotionally,” UNLV President Keith Whitfield said in a statement Thursday.
The American Union of Teachers urges not to listen to the big guns
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents teachers and staff in Nevada, said “Americans can’t be complacent” about mass shootings because they “happen so often.”
“Today we are sad; Tomorrow we take action – for gun reform, including removing weapons of war from our streets and communities, strengthening background checks and safe storage laws, banning high-capacity magazines and passing better laws the more serious the defense, ” he said in a statement.
The Nevada Faculty Alliance, the union for professors in the state, said that there are no words that can describe the “sadness and sorrow we feel for our colleagues.”
“False words, thoughts, and prayers can’t fix this,” the union said said in a statement Thursday. “Violence is not an acceptable solution.”
Who is unemployed professor and gunman Anthony Polito?
The gunman, identified by authorities as Anthony Polito, 67, applied for jobs at various Nevada colleges, including UNLV, and was rejected each time, the Sheriff’s Department said. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Kevin McMahill. Polito also sent 22 letters to university teachers throughout the country.
The police officer also said that Polito, 67 years old, is in a difficult financial situation, as indicated in an eviction notice that was issued found posted on the front door of his apartment. The cause of his shooting is currently under investigation.
Polito was hired by East Carolina University in 2001 as an assistant professor in the marketing and supply chain department of the college of business. He resigned in January 2017 as an assistant professor, Jeannine Manning Hutson, a spokeswoman for the university, told USA TODAY. Polito described himself online as “semi-retired.”
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