Columbine principal says Jokela will need help for a long time

Frank DeAngelis offers advice to stunned Finns

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By Pekka Mykkänen in Littleton, Colorado, USA
     
      Principal Frank DeAngelis has learned to live with his traumas, in a way. The sound of a balloon popping used to send him diving for cover.
      "Nowadays, something like that sends chills up my spine, or I might break out in tears."
      This is the reaction of a 53-year-old man who has guided the students, parents, and staff of Columbine High School through the grief sparked by the world's most infamous shooting spree at a school. Two students killed 12 young people and one teacher in 1999.
     
Therefore, DeAngelis has some idea of what the victims of Jokela and others who are involved might face. He believes that many "are in shock now, and are not sure what has happened".
      "It is a marathon, not a sprint. We have employees who hardly felt anything for the first seven or eight years, but now they are having symptoms of post-traumatic stress."
      The principal has one clear piece of advice for the Finns: seek professional help. "I was told that if I don't get help myself, I won't be much good at helping others."
     
The principal never hid his own weaknesses. At a church service on the day following the shooting, DeAngelis walked out in front of 1,000 others who had been affected by the event. The audience waited, but for the first minute, DeAngelis could only cry.
      The principal himself might have died in the shooting. One of the shooters was coming toward him with his shotgun ready when he turned his attention to teacher William David "Dave" Sanders who was killed.
      "I suffer from survivor's guilt. Why did Dave die and why did I live?"
     
He expects that similar feelings of guilt will be felt in Jokela as well. And as the shooter shot himself, guilty parties will be sought out elsewhere: in the school, among officials, the police - exactly as it happened in the United States.
      He says that he is "sad but not surprised" to hear that the shooter in Jokela was inspired by one of the Columbine killers.
      DeAngelis says that references have been made to Columbine whenever there has been a shooting at a school. One student in North Carolina sent DeAngelis an e-mail before killing his stepfather and injuring two in the school. "Remember Columbine", he had shouted.
     
After the shootings there was talk of closing down Columbine, but "then the killers would have won". One in five of the staff of about 150 quit their jobs. Some students took a year off.
      DeAngelis understands them. The principal recently had a minor accident with his car, which he says resulted from an impaired ability to concentrate. He recognised himself that things were going in a bad direction again, and sought out therapy for a moment.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 11,11.2007

More on this subject:
 Enhanced security, but no metal detectors at Columbine High School

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Jokela tries to get back to normal (13.11.2007)
  Local clergy help Jokela residents cope with shooting aftermath (12.11.2007)
  Jokela: a peaceful little village thrust into world spotlight (9.11.2007)

PEKKA MYKKÄNEN / Helsingin Sanomat
pekka.mykkanen@hs.fi