(Graphic Content)
AOL News has obtained two plays a classmate says were written by Cho Seung-Hui. Ian MacFarlane, the former classmate and current AOL employee, provided us with the plays. A note from Mr. MacFarlane and links to the works appear below.What happened yesterday:
When I first heard about the multiple shootings at Virginia Tech yesterday, my first thought was about my friends, and my second thought was "I bet it was Seung Cho."
Cho was in my playwriting class last fall, and nobody seemed to think much of him at first. He would sit by himself whenever possible, and didn't like talking to anyone. I don't think I've ever actually heard his voice before. He was just so quiet and kept to himself. Looking back, he fit the exact stereotype of what one would typically think of as a "school shooter" – a loner, obsessed with violence, and serious personal problems. Some of us in class tried to talk to him to be nice and get him out of his shell, but he refused talking to anyone. It was like he didn't want to be friends with anybody. One friend of mine tried to offer him some Halloween candy that she still had, but he slowly shook his head, refusing it. He just came to class every day and submitted his work on time, as I understand it.
A major part of the playwriting class was peer reviews. We would write one-act plays and submit them to an online repository called Blackboard for everyone in the class to read and comment about in class the next day. Typically, the students give their opinions about the plays and suggest ways to make it better, the professor gives his insights, then asks the author to comment about the play in class.
When we read Cho's plays, it was like something out of a nightmare. The plays had really twisted, macabre violence that used weapons I wouldn't have even thought of. Before Cho got to class that day, we students were talking to each other with serious worry about whether he could be a school shooter. I was even thinking of scenarios of what I would do in case he did come in with a gun, I was that freaked out about him. When the students gave reviews of his play in class, we were very careful with our words in case he decided to snap. Even the professor didn't pressure him to give closing comments.
After hearing about the mass shootings, I sent one of my friends a Facebook message asking him if he knew anything about Seung Cho and if he could have been involved. He replied: "dude that's EXACTLY what I was thinking! No, I haven't heard anything, but seriously, that was the first thing I thought when I heard he was Asian."
While I "knew" Cho, I always wished there was something I could do for him, but I couldn't think of anything. As far as notifying authorities, there isn't (to my knowledge) any system set up that lets people say "Hey! This guy has some issues! Maybe you should look into this guy!" If there were, I definitely would have tried to get the kid some help. I think that could have had a good chance of averting yesterday's tragedy more than anything.
While I was hesitant at first to release these plays (because I didn't know if there are laws against it), I had to put myself in the shoes of the average person researching this situation. I'd want to know everything I could about the killer to figure out what could drive a person to do something like this and hopefully prevent it in the future. Also, I hope this might help people start caring about others more no matter how weird they might seem, because if this was some kind of cry for attention, then he should have gotten it a long time ago.
As far as the victims go, as I was heading to bed last night, I heard that my good friend Stack (Ryan Clark) was one of the first confirmed dead. I didn't want to believe that I'd never get to talk to him again, and all I could think about was how much I could tell him how much his friendship meant to me. During my junior year, Ryan, another friend and I used to get breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Shultz Dining Hall, one of the cafeterias on campus, and it was always the highlight of my day. He could talk forever it seemed and always made us laugh. He was a good friend, not just to me, but to a lot of people, and I'll miss him a lot.
Click on the links below the read the plays. WARNING: the plays contain profanity and scenes with disturbing content.
- Read Play #1: 'Richard McBeef'
- Read Play #2: 'Mr. Brownstone'
Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 689)
91. Stacy, I agree with you - this guy sounds like he is not only wacko but not very smart. I don't understand why people are attacking you. Your are right - this paper certainly does not sound like something that somebody in college should be writing! Don't let those jerks that are jumping on you for stating the facts get to you! Sounds like they need to see a counselor themselves!
Susan at 2:56PM on Apr 17th 2007
92. Hey Scott - YOU are a twit and a moron, not Stacy! You like that? And YOU grow up, roxie, you idiot! Of course we can judge the psycho's writing, you dumbazzes. Hey Madeline, that's right, defend the psycho, you ignoramus.
Sean at 2:56PM on Apr 17th 2007
93. Dearest Ian,
I was very moved by your letter, and I commend you for your actions. I can't believe the first comment in response was a critique of your writing ability...which under the circumstances, I think was very well written. (Shame on you Stacy)
I am so sorry, also, that you have to know the grief of so many friends, and also knowing that you had also lived amongst the sort of individual that would be responsible for taking them from you.
I lost my 17-year old son last year, who passed away in a fire while he was staying overnight at a friend's house. Two of his friends passed with him. It is still a shock that such a thing could happen. And although the fire investigators and police brushed it all under the rug, the boy who escaped the fire, who has a documented history associated with fire and fire threats, is still going to school and exhibiting bizarre behavior, and our families have tried to bring this to the attention of authorities...to no avail. You are right, there is NO SYSTEM that allows us to report these things and be taken seriously. I fear this boy will do something terrible in the future, but I feel helpless to stop it. So don't feel like you are responsible in any way, and God bless you and give you comfort as you mourn for your friends.
Cari at 4:32PM on Apr 17th 2007
94. I just can't believe someone from that college was not smart enough to see that this young man was crying out for help. It's very obvious he was very disturbed.
Judy at 2:56PM on Apr 17th 2007
95. Guess I'm naive, but this piece of porn should've elicited some kind of action when he turned it in. Perhaps, in our depraved society, this was not considered out of the 'norm'.
Linda at 2:56PM on Apr 17th 2007
96. Someone should have taken this play seriously. It sounds to much like real life and the kind of anger someone would posses if he were sexually abused. Low self-estem, hatred, feeling like he doesn't fit in.
You are in college but nobody is educating professors or students what to look for in people who have been abused.
It's a shame. Look how many are dead now.
dkaelinamri at 2:57PM on Apr 17th 2007
97. Wether it sounds like it was written by a 9th grader or not, the content of this play just goes to show how mentally disturbed he really was. All we could do is keep all those killed, their families, classmates and friends in our thoughts and prayers.
luissantos83 at 8:30PM on Apr 17th 2007
98. this sounds like a cry for help, why would someone post a play like this for a class if it wasn't. Anyone who read it in the first place could have sent it to a counselor-especially the teacher. This whole thing is very sad and there is really no one to blame. The only thing to do is put procedures in place to prevent something like this again. Realistically, if someone wants to do something like this, they will find a way to pull it off. Life should be a wonderful experience. Life should not have to worry about random acts of violence. Very sad.
anonomyous at 3:12PM on Apr 17th 2007
99. This is a very sick story. How could people now see what this would lead to? People must take more precautions when people act out in this manner.
jessmdeleon at 2:57PM on Apr 17th 2007
100. It sounds like this kid had severe family issues. If most of his writings were this violent and disturbing, someone should have done something to help him out, alert the authorities, or at least report it to the school psychiatrist.
Oscar at 3:08PM on Apr 17th 2007
101. Very angry young man! Makes one wonder what happened to him as a child. He came to the US when he was 8 years old....what made him so angry, so hurt, so desparate, so vile?
More than any of these questions, why and how did no one see what he was becoming?
My heart goes out to the family and friends of all those touched by this horrific act.
sa at 2:57PM on Apr 17th 2007
102. there was something seriously wrong with this student. This should have been submitted to a counselor or a dean or something. The playwriting teacher should have red-flagged this right away. I mean, if this had been caught before hand this senseless tragedy might have been avoided.
Erica at 3:57PM on Apr 17th 2007
103. It would appear that childhood issues have had a damaging impact on this young man's personality development. It is unfortunate in the greatest sense, that this led to taking innocent lives and adversely affecting thousands of others. I would like to say, in my view, that the poster of this poem does not hold any responsiblitliy for Cho's behavior. This would not help you, nor anyone else. Spend your time consoling your friends, receiving support (which you need and deserve), and begining to recover from the tragic consequences of twisted behavior. Move forward in honor of those fallen, they would want you to continue on in a positive direction in your life, meeting your educational, professional, and social goals. Life cannot stop for the living, for it increases the magnitude of this senseless tragedy. To move forward is not disrespect, in fact, it shows your respect for life and your precious relationships with those taken from you, and us. They will live on in you, your actions and your fond memories. We, as a people, will not forget.
To all: please take care,
Casey Monroe
Casey Monroe at 3:02PM on Apr 17th 2007
104. jesus hello does anyone not notice this guy was out of his goddamn mind hey dude i have REALITY CHECK for you you are responsible you could have told them about this crazy asian kid and now 30 peple are dead and you want to put up his plays your gonna burn man
felix at 3:35PM on Apr 17th 2007
105. Jessica, you have no right to come on here and post with such disrespect for the tragedy that happened. Just because your TV shows were "interrupted". You know, a lot of people's lives were interrupted in a horrible way yesterday, and you have no right to come here and complain about the fact that you can't watch TV. Grow up.
tyrantduck at 2:58PM on Apr 17th 2007