The University of Iowa College Massacre: A Chronicle of Tragedy and Remembrance

The University of Iowa shooting on November 1, 1991, remains a significant event in the institution's history. Those present on campus that day, and even some who were not, carry vivid memories of the tragedy. This article delves into the details of the event, its impact on the community, and the reflections of those affected.

A Day of Horror: November 1, 1991

On a quiet, snowy Friday afternoon, the University of Iowa community experienced a horrific event. Gang Lu, a former UI graduate student, opened fire in two campus buildings, killing five people and seriously injuring another before taking his own life.

The Victims

The lives tragically cut short were:

Christoph Goertz: A professor of physics and astronomy.
Robert "Bob" Smith: Also a professor of physics and astronomy. Smith collaborated with Chris on part of the research.
Dwight R. Nicholson: Chairman of the physics and astronomy department.
Linhua Shan: A postdoctoral researcher.
T. Anne Cleary: Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and a university grievance officer.

Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, a temporary student employee, was also shot but survived, though she was left paralyzed from the neck down.

Eyewitness Accounts and Personal Reflections

The shooting had a profound impact on individuals connected to the university. Jo Ann Beard, the managing editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research, worked closely with Christoph Goertz and Robert Smith. Though not on campus that day, she later wrote an essay, "The Fourth State of Matter," which captured the tragedy's impact.

Beard recalled, "I knew Chris [Goertz] really well, and I knew the people in his research group. I knew his research team and his students, and I knew the student who wound up being the perpetrator of the crime." She emphasized the tragedy's immense effect on the school, the town, and the surrounding area.

Mary Allen, a writing coach and UI graduate, worked alongside Beard on the second floor of Van Allen Hall. She remembered her initial disbelief: "I didn’t believe it at first - you can’t just go from ordinary, everyday life to ‘There’s a murderer’ in a second."

Todd Kleusner, a student on campus, described the event as "something new," transforming an abstract concept into a stark reality with faces and personalities.

A Detailed Account of the Shooting

The events unfolded rapidly on that Friday afternoon. In Van Allen Hall, a series of gunshots echoed through the building. Initially, some mistook the sounds for construction or a staple gun. However, the reality was far more sinister.

Van Allen Hall

Gang Lu attended a meeting of the theoretical space plasma physics research group in Room 309. Shortly after the meeting began, he opened fire with a .38 Special revolver. He shot three attendees, then went to the second floor to shoot Dwight Nicholson in his office. Lu returned to the third floor, shooting the initial victims again. Christoph Goertz and Linhua Shan died immediately. Robert Smith was wounded but later killed when Lu returned to the room.

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Jessup Hall

After the shootings in Van Allen Hall, Lu walked to Jessup Hall. He entered the office of T. Anne Cleary, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and shot her in the head. Cleary died the following day. Lu then shot Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, who was working in the Office of Academic Affairs.

The Aftermath

Gang Lu was later found in room 203 of Jessup Hall with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He died shortly after police arrived.

The Shooter: Gang Lu

Gang Lu was a 28-year-old Chinese graduate student who had earned his doctoral degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Iowa in May 1991. He had studied physics at Peking University before coming to the United States.

Motives

Lu was reportedly infuriated that his dissertation did not receive the D.C. Spriestersbach Dissertation Prize, which included a monetary award. He believed that winning the prize would improve his chances of securing a job and remaining in the United States. In the months leading up to the shooting, Lu wrote letters explaining his planned actions.

Warning Signs

Some acquaintances described Lu as a loner with a volatile temper. Xuming Chi, a former roommate, noted that Lu "had a very bad temper and saw himself as No. 1." Chi also mentioned that Lu had been practicing shooting for months.

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Community Response and Healing

In the wake of the tragedy, the University of Iowa community grieved and sought ways to heal. Memorial services were held, and the event prompted discussions about gun control and the pressures faced by graduate students.

Acts of Forgiveness

Notably, Cleary's brothers publicly forgave Lu, reading a letter addressed to Lu's family at her funeral. This act of compassion deeply affected the community, with some Chinese students converting to Christianity as a result.

Counseling and Support

Kathleen Staley, a counselor at University Counseling Services, provided support to faculty and students in the aftermath. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging feelings of sorrow and helped students feel safe on campus.

Long-Term Impact and Remembrance

The University of Iowa shooting had lasting effects on the lives of those connected to the event.

Changes in Perspective

Anne Rhodes, the vice president for university relations at the time, admitted that she still looks for exits any time she enters a room. Mike Rogers, a student who passed Lu in the stairwell, said the event changed his outlook on life.

Lessons Learned

Jo Ann Beard reflected on the event, noting that "the truth is subject to shape-shifting and misinterpretation" and that "there is no rational reason for murder." She emphasized the role of blame, hate, distorted thinking, and mental illness in such tragedies.

Institutional Changes

The shooting led to the formation of a threat assessment team at the university. However, some officials acknowledged that the focus at the time was more on healing than on preventing future incidents.

A Broader Perspective: College Shootings in America

The University of Iowa shooting was not an isolated incident. Shootings at colleges and universities have occurred throughout American history, with some resulting in mass casualties.

Notable College Shootings

University of Texas at Austin (1966): A shooter killed 15 people and injured 31 others.
Virginia Tech (2007): The deadliest college shooting in U.S. history, with 32 fatalities and at least 23 injuries.
Northern Illinois University (2008): A shooter killed five people and injured 16 others.
Michigan State University (2023): A shooter killed three students and wounded at least five others.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2023): A shooter killed three faculty members and wounded another.

Gun Violence on College Campuses

Beyond mass shootings, numerous incidents of gunfire occur on college campuses each year, including individual attacks, unintentional shootings, and suicides.

College Campus Gun Policies

Gun laws on college campuses vary by state, with some allowing colleges to decide their own policies and others permitting guns on campus with certain regulations.

Student Opinions on Gun Policy

College students are often concerned about gun laws and campus safety, expressing their views through activism, surveys, and voting.

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