# UCLA shooting: student kills prof over grades **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273 "2016-06-02T01:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/1 "2016-06-02T01:58:48Z")
Ho, hum, another campus shooting, this time at my alma mater (MA, PhD). New wrinkle: the student apparently killed his professor [over his grades](http://www.businessinsider.com/police-investigate-report-of-shooting-2016-6). As someone who has taught his share of ridiculously entitled university students, and who has the battle over grades at least once a semester, usually more, this absolutely freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/2 "2016-06-02T02:07:04Z")
I’m not sure of the student’s plan here; does he think perhaps the substitute and/or TA they hire to finish up the prof’s work for the year will somehow come to a different conclusion re: grades? I too find it scary. As a grad student, I was physically threatened by a pre-med student in the class I was TAing. Apparently he thought it was a good way to improve his grades instead of the actual result, chucked out of school. If he’d had a gun, though, and was slightly more deranged than he was, who knows what would have happened. Guns kill people. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/3 "2016-06-02T02:16:19Z")
Incredibly sad. The 39 y.o prof was described as being brilliant and kind. I’m kinda glad the killer turned the gun on himself. It’ll save the taxpayers millions in trial costs & the cost of supporting him in prison for life. I heard earlier on the news that a note was left at the scene. Will be interesting to learn the details. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/4 "2016-06-02T02:19:28Z")
I was a student there when this happened. > **[University of Iowa shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Iowa_shooting)** > > The University of Iowa shooting was a mass shooting that occurred in Iowa City, Iowa, on November 1, 1991. Gang Lu, a 28-year-old former graduate student at the University of Iowa, killed three members of the Physics and Astronomy Department faculty, an Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a fellow student, then seriously injured another student working at the university's campus, before committing suicide. > Gang Lu (Chinese: 卢刚; pinyin: Lú Gāng; c. 1962 – November 1, 1991), was a 2... I didn’t know any of the people involved, but I did recognize the three professors by sight, having taken physics the previous semester. My instructors were not injured (physically, anyway). There’s a book about it called “Deadly Scholarship” which is OK as true-crime books go. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/5 "2016-06-02T03:32:23Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > I’m not sure of the student’s plan here; does he think perhaps the substitute and/or TA they hire to finish up the prof’s work for the year will somehow come to a different conclusion re: grades? I would guess it’s not a plan to reverse the grade, but to get revenge on the professor who has “ruined his life” (although as most of us college grads know, even failing a class is not that detrimental to a successful career, so long as you accept that a successful career is not always the one you planned on when you were a freshman). I was a TA in college, and I had some rather heated comments from students over some rather clear-cut grading. One of them earned a lot of respect from me for coming back and apologizing for comments made in the heat of the moment - I remember that particular student ended up doing fairly well in the class on his own merits. Most of them are just mad at themselves for not doing the work and projecting. I’m glad none of them decided to project with actual projectiles. Condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the victims. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/6 "2016-06-02T03:55:34Z")
Another famous case: > **[Theodore Streleski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Streleski)** > > Theodore Landon "Ted" Streleski (b. 1936) is an American former graduate student in mathematics at Stanford University who murdered his former faculty advisor, Professor Karel de Leeuw, with a ball-peen hammer on August 18, 1978. Shortly after the murder, Streleski turned himself in to the authorities, claiming he felt the murder was justifiable homicide because de Leeuw had withheld departmental awards from him, demeaned Streleski in front of his peers, and refused his requests for financial sup... ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/7 "2016-06-02T04:17:24Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > my alma mater (MA, PhD). How _you_ doin’? ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/8 "2016-06-02T05:43:38Z")
So, California, how is that whole “gun-free” thing working out for you? > [@](#): > > The California Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1995 and Amendments, codified in California Penal Codes §§ 626.9 & 626.10, prohibit the transportation and possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons on public school properties in California, including property of the University of California. The University of California Office of the President has issued Implementing Guidelines for the Act and Amendments. This Policy incorporates and implements the Act and Amendments, the UC Implementing Guidelines, and applicable State and local codes. > > This Policy prohibits the transportation and possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons on the grounds of UCLA campus, off-campus buildings owned or operated by the University, areas adjacent to University Property or to activities of or programs conducted by the University, whether on- or off-University Property. > **[131.pdf](https://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/pdf/131.pdf)** > > 104.92 KB It’s no wonder the guy committed suicide–I guess he couldn’t bear the shame of breaking a school policy. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/9 "2016-06-02T05:57:46Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > How _you_ doin’? Heh. I didn’t mean that to come across as quite so pretentious—I just meant “grad school, not undergrad.” That’s what I get for participating in the honorifics threads. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/10 "2016-06-02T10:29:59Z")
**Everyone** Keep gun control politics out of this thread Warnings will be issued > [@Flyer](#): > > So, California, how is that whole “gun-free” thing working out for you? > > [http://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/pdf/131.pdf](http://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/pdf/131.pdf) > > It’s no wonder the guy committed suicide–I guess he couldn’t bear the shame of breaking a school policy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/11 "2016-06-02T10:31:18Z")
Considering I’m meeting a student today over grades, and as a department chair I deal with grade issues all the time, this story is really disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/12 "2016-06-02T10:56:39Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Ho, hum, another campus shooting, this time at my alma mater (MA, PhD). > > New wrinkle: the student apparently killed his professor [over his grades](http://www.businessinsider.com/police-investigate-report-of-shooting-2016-6). > > As someone who has taught his share of ridiculously entitled university students, and who has the battle over grades at least once a semester, usually more, this absolutely freaks me out. May have stemmed from grades. I live in Westwood and I am a UCLA alum. One unsubstantiated rumor from a girl I know who also knew the shooter said the two were having a UCLA relationship. Probably BS but we should wait till the suicide note is released before we make up our minds. It was the most helicopters flying over my apt since Michael Jackson died. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/13 "2016-06-02T11:08:27Z")
Oh sure, over the top as hell, but I sometimes wish my son had cared a little more about his grades. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/14 "2016-06-02T12:32:46Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > One unsubstantiated rumor from a girl I know who also knew the shooter said the two were having a UCLA relationship. . What’s a “UCLA relationship”? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/15 "2016-06-02T14:34:47Z")
News reports now say that the shooter had accused the Professor of stealing dome of his computer code. The Chief of Police will speak in 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/16 "2016-06-02T14:35:52Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > What’s a “UCLA relationship”? One that involves bad typing. :o ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/17 "2016-06-02T15:04:08Z")
Words fail at the notion that someone who has made it to that level of education figures that physical intimidation, threats of violence(\*) or actual deadly force are valid ways to address disputes or grievances, or that a failure is a cause for just bringing down the roof on yourself and others in deadly anger… yet it is bafflingly so common! (\*That extends also to online threat campaigns and doxxings.) Too much of this around, this bizarre life-negating despair that because things haven’t gone your way there has been some cosmic injustice and everyone’s world must end in pain too. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/18 "2016-06-02T15:06:32Z")
More on the motivations behind this shooting > **[UCLA gunman planned to kill two professors but could find only one, police say](https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mainak-sarkar-ucla-20160602-snap-story.html)** > > The gunman who killed a UCLA professor before committing suicide on campus Wednesday left behind a “kill list” and is suspected in the shooting death of a woman in Minnesota, authorities said. And a gofundme page for the young children of the slain professor ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/19 "2016-06-02T15:13:41Z")
Today’s revelations on motive make more sense than “a dispute over grades.” Still just as sad, but a tad less scary. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273/20 "2016-06-02T15:30:59Z")
n/m. insensitive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-shooting-student-kills-prof-over-grades/756273.md?page=2)