Members of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars erected a simple memorial to Xin Yang in front of the Au Bon Pain in the Graduate Life Center where she was killed Wednesday, Jan. 21 in a violent knife attack allegedly pepetrated by a fellow Chinese student.
Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — This story has been modified from its original version. A portion of a quote attributed to Y.A. Liu, adviser of the Tech Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, has been removed because it was ambiguous. The Collegiate Times incorrectly identified Y.A. Liu, a professor of chemical engineering and adviser of the Tech Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, as the translator between Virginia Tech and the family of slain student Xin Yang. A member of Tech's Chinese community handled the translation. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.
"We opted to contact the police to find out if we had any recourse, such as destruction to property, to force all the residents living in the townhome to maintain the heat at 68 degrees," Spain wrote. "It was not because Mr. Zhu was exhibiting any behavior that would lead us to believe he was a danger to himself or others."
Spain wrote that the issues were essentially nothing more than residents not following their leasing agreements, and that International Affairs was also contacted.
Segar also said that Zhu accused his staff of stealing his shoes, and that he had brought Yang into the rental office in search of an apartment.
"Last week he came in and accused the staff of stealing his shoes," Spain said. "I said, 'You have two roommates; are you sure it wasn't one of them?' But he was adamant that staff had stolen his shoes."
University Provost Mark McNamee met with representatives from the Chinese Embassy, Tech police, and other university officials Friday.
McNamee said the meeting addressed a number of issues that needed to be explored, but the most important was of how her family would come to the United States.
"We discussed how to extend the invitation and how to work through the embassy so they could obtain visas," McNamee said.
Yang's family will likely arrive in Blacksburg later this week.
McNamee added that this was not the first time Tech had met with representatives from the Chinese Embassy.
"We've always had a good relationship with the Chinese Embassy," McNamee said. "They like the fact that we've been very supportive of the Chinese students that come here."
Police explained to the Chinese representatives how the police process and court system works in the United States, and explained that a lawyer had been appointed to Zhu, McNamee said.
Under Virginia law, Zhu's conviction would carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is currently held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond and has a preliminary hearing on March 5.
Stephanie Cox, Zhu's court appointed attorney, did not return calls from the Collegiate Times.
McNamee added that Yang's family speaks only Chinese, so all of the communication has been done through a faculty member who speaks both Chinese and English.
Y.A. Liu, adviser of the Tech Association of Chinese Students and Scholars declined comment to the Collegiate Times Monday.
"At the request of the suspect and also the victim's family I cannot speak to the news media," Liu said.
Though a small temporary memorial was constructed in front of the Au Bon Pain in the Graduate Life Center, nothing further will be planned until the victim's family has arrived in the United States, McNamee said. If the family approves, the university will hold an official memorial service for her.
Knutson added that Memorial University has not had any discussion with Yang's family, but does plan to establish a memorial.
In an e-mail to VT-ACSS members, Liu explained the makeshift memorial in the GLC.
"With the support from the University, VT-ACSS is setting up a station within the GLC in memory of Ms. Xin Yang with flowers and books to write your words of condolences at the GLC (last) Sunday evening," Liu said. "We will give the signed books to Ms. Yang's family members when they arrive on our campus in the near future."
Kim Beisecker, Cranwell International Student Center director, was unavailable on Monday and did not return calls to the Collegiate Times.
Continue Reading: « Previous12
Leave a comment 22 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
First you quote an unverified comment as a factual source, then you quote Liu when asked not to?
Reply to this Top
it's not a comment nor a quote, dummy; just a prepared, generic statement. get with it.
Reply to this Top
"established herself as a permanent resident of Canada " What does this mean?
Reply to this Top
It's a short cut for many Chinese people, because it's much easier to get PR status in Canada than in US. After the degrees, most of them would try to move down south either pursue further education or find a job due to the limited job market and compensation in Canada. Plus, it’s easier to apply an US college from Canada than from China when you have a PR status in Canada.
Reply to this Top
A premeditated first degree murder and stabbing and decapitation and the maximum is life in prison? I'm sorry, I'm one of those mean, heartless people that thinks people like this guy ought not to be breathing oxygen any longer. Sheesh...
Reply to this Top
@Jochebed: The death penalty does not apply in this case since the murder did not occur in the commission of another felony.
Reply to this Top
@Jason - and I find that to be a travesty. It's a shame that just taking a person's life (especially in such a horrendous way) isn't considered enough of a felony to warrant the death penalty.
Reply to this Top
Agreed with Jochebed. US has been moving away from the death penalty. Criminals who murder law enforcement officers and others (such as judges i think and others in government) can be punished with the death penalty, but the rest of us serfs are not as important. Attempted murder should be life in prison, and murder (racially, ethnically, or otherwise motivated) should be punished by death.....Period.
Reply to this Top
@Jochebed: I couldn't agree more. Decapitation is a lot crueler than other types of murder, in my opinion. He deserves to suffer and have the same done to him.
Reply to this Top
First, I agree with the principle of 'an eye for an eye' when it comes to murder. But as a pragmatist, I ask "what is the point?" Is it to be a deterrent? It shouldn't be - it doesn't work. Is it to reduce prison population? No, there are maybe a few dozen executions/year. Is it to 'get even' with the killer? Probably, but is that a valid reason to take another's life? If anything is achieved, it's adding stress on jurors who are charged with deciding the fate of another human being - count me out, please.
Reply to this Top
It's not a death eligible offense in Virginia. No other felony was committed in the process of the murder, so under Virginia law, it is first degree, not capital murder. In contrast, William Morva killed two people, killed while escaping custody and killed a law enforcement officer in the line of duty. All three of those are death eligible aggravating circumstances that resulted in his receiving the death penalty. And in Virginia THEY DO EXECUTE those on death row.
Reply to this Top
We do not execute people to get revenge. We execute them because we feel they are a threat to kill again. Even though they are in prison, they can still kill again.
Reply to this Top
There is no truth to the below post from workingmannews.com, which is a racist site. Unfortunately, bigoted individuals outside the university are trolling and tring to exploit this tragedy to publicize their agenda. No details of what happened during the attack have been disclosed, other than what we already know.
Reply to this Top
Helen - I've read everthing I can find that's been published refferencing this crime. I've seen nothing that even remotely suggests what you describe. If you've got an OFFICIAL source for your information I'd love to see it... otherwise you are simply stirring up emotion with baseless claims, and accusations... which I currently believe to be the case.
Reply to this Top
Regarding potential positive benefits of having the death penalty available: people seldom remember something they see every week on and of the various flavors of CSI or Law and Order. Having the death penalty available as a tool to the law enforcement community often times elicits help from at least some of the perps involved in a crime. This can speed up solving a case, and often times yields solid confessions. That may sound morbid, but it's true.
Reply to this Top
Helen - Thanks for providing us with a link to such a highly credible website, and I must say that the site displays one of the best examples of web design I've seen in a while... You FAIL @ trolling, and furthermore, it's sickening how this terrible incident is being exploited by these idiots.
Reply to this Top
Helen- I think your comments are extremely inappropriate and out of line. Your 'website' is clearly not a credible source, and you should be ashamed of yourself for judging the witnesses that were there. The fact is, we DON'T know what the circumstances were when this terrible act was committed, and it is distasteful to assume that these people were idle. The reports of the witnesses say there was no indication of a struggle until he pulled out the knife. For all we know, it could have been too late to do anything. In my opinion, you are a spineless commentator who only wishes to stir up trouble, and it is YOUR pathetic picture we should be waiting for to be posted. Amen HokieDad.
Reply to this Top
""established herself as a permanent resident of Canada " What does this mean? " It means she was a legal permament resident of Canada working and paying taxes like everyone else. It's the equivalent of holding a "green card" in the United States.
Reply to this Top
""established herself as a permanent resident of Canada " What does this mean? " It means she was a legal permament resident of Canada working and paying taxes like everyone else. It's the equivalent of holding a "green card" in the United States.
Reply to this Top
I'm very interested in getting an update on this incident. I still want to know why. I'm sure you will give an extensive report when you know more information I just wanted you to know many of us are still very interested. Thanks for all of the reporting.
Reply to this Top
I wonder why lots of murders here in America are made by the students from China. I guess they go wild after they left their country and come into our country. But no matter what, execute this vampire first!
Reply to this Top
This is a very sad story...
Reply to this Top