Lessons from the Gang Lu Murders

This paper offers a critical review and reflection of the 1991 University of Iowa shootings. Gang Lu, a disgruntled Iowa graduate student, was initially angered over perceived slights he was receiving from his academic department. When he felt that his concerns were left unanswered by the University, he decided to seek revenge on those whom he felt were responsible. In doing so, he murdered five individuals and paralyzed another before taking his own life. This paper seeks to reflect on these shootings twenty years after the occurrence and to offer a discussion of some of the larger societal themes raised by this tragedy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kent State University, 400 East Fourth Street, East Liverpool, OH, 43920, USA Eric D. Miller
  1. Eric D. Miller