Collegiate Times

Edward McNelis, attorney for former Cook Counseling Center director Robert Miller, responded to a request for admissions today in a written statement to the press.

McNelis said the request, sent by Robert Hall, attorney for the families of April 16 victims Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde, would not receive a public response.

“The requests for admission by Mr. Hall are not facts but merely contentions drafted by an attorney with a vested interest in the outcome of the lawsuit,” McNelis said in the statement. “In contrast, the documents recently filed by Dr. Miller regarding the details of how he inadvertently removed the triage forms were statements of fact given under oath.”

Miller, who returned the mental health records of April 16 shooter Seung-Hui Cho in July after locating them in his home, released a legal response to questions on Tuesday. Hall sent a request for admissions on Thursday after the records were made public by Virginia Tech and Cho’s estate. Zc

Lawyers for the families of April 16 victims that are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Virginia Tech and state officials have asked Robert Miller, the former Cook Counseling Center director who returned Seung-Hui Cho’s mental health records, for more information.

A press release from Robert Hall, attorney for the families of April 16 shooting victims Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde, said the mental health documents released Wednesday were “remarkable for what they don’t contain.”

Hall sent a request for admissions to Miller’s counsel Thursday. He hopes to gain more information than Miller released in a public legal response Tuesday.

The request for admissions makes 65 assertions in relation to Miller’s knowledge of Cho and gives Miller the chance to respond.

It outlines the center’s interaction with Cho, as well as the internal communications of university personnel with Miller detailing Cho’s mental health history.

Read the document below:

Request for Admissions

If you have questions about the document or the assertions that should be investigated, send them to newseditor@collegiatetimes.com or post a comment. Zc

“Leadership of redesign of Cook Counseling Center clinical service delivery. New design included: HIPAA compliant record keeping and clinical process, computerized on-line intake, introduction on electronic medical records to the department, and new triage system to ensure effective client intake.”

I didn’t actually catch this. A family member of an April 16 victim sent that note to me, and it is very interesting.

On page six of the resume, Miller lists accomplishments from his positions. From 2002-06, this is what is written.

I will be checking on the potential existence of electronic records, or why they do not exist. Zc

If you haven’t seen my report on today’s developments, check it out here.

Just as a note, Virginia Tech will respond to the events later today, as media have been invited to Burruss Hall at 2 p.m.

So, check back for more information. Zc

A Chronicle of Higher Education article is discussing the findings of a study on the lingering psychological aspects of a campus shooting at Dawson College.

One student was killed and 19 were injured in a shooting at the downtown Montreal school. However, many more were in the building, and that is the focus of the study.

Among the highlights of the findings:

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was less common than expected.
• Serious depression was higher than expected
• 40% of the people in the building were psychologically effected
• Women were twice as likely to be effected, but that is with the disclaimer that many men were “reluctant” to seek treatment.

It notes the history of psychological studies in the aftermath of campus shootings. Columbine refused to do such a study because of a fear of bringing the tragedy back into the minds of the students.

However, the article said Virginia Tech is undertaking a similar study at this time, so we will await the results of that study.

It is the first official word I have heard on the actual existence of such a study. I will try and get some more information on that and bring it to you as soon as I can. Zc