--- In [email protected], "mainstream20016" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "shempmcgurk" <shempmcgurk@> wrote: > > > > IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT > > FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA > > CENTRAL DIVISION > > > > ESTATE OF LEVI ANDELIN BUTLER, > > by and through his Personal Representative, JOSHUA BUTLER, > > Plaintiff, > > v. > > MAHARISHI UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT and > > MAHARISHI VEDIC EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, > > Defendants. ))))))))))))) Case No. 06-cv-00072 > > > > > (big snip) > > During the approximately six weeks Shuvender Sem was on the > > Maharishi University of Management campus, his appearance and > > behavior became increasingly bizarre and his attitude toward other > > students became more aggressive, threatening, and belligerent. As > > one example, Sem threatened to kill a fellow student by bashing the > > student's head into a sink and then stomping on him while he was on > > the ground. > > The change in Shuvender Sem's appearance, behavior, and attitude was > > observed by his fellow students and either was, or should have been, > > observed by Defendants. > > E. The Attacks on March 1, 2004 > > On Monday, March 1, 2004, Shuvender Sem attended an afternoon class > > at Maharishi University of Management at which several University > > staff persons were present. These persons included Samuel Boothby, > > Chris Jones, and Susan Dillbeck. Susan Dillbeck is a member of the > > University's Board of Trustees. About a dozen other students were > > also in attendance. > > Was Levi Butler present at the afternoon classroom assault? Only about a dozen 1st year > students were in attendance? Jones and Dillbeck are Education professors. Was this a > core course on Education that included the entire 1st year class? > Both Levi Butler and Sem were first year students. Do first year MUM students move as > a single group, from core course to core course, as the MIU 1st year classes did ? > > > > The class had just finished meditating and was watching a video of > > Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, when Shuvender Sem became agitated, stood up, > > and began making strange gestures. Eventually, he left the room for > > a few minutes. When he returned, he stood behind a student named > > John Killian. > > Suddenly and without provocation, Sem began screaming obscenities > > and stabbed John Killian in the face and throat with a pen. > > The classroom attack on John Killian occurred at approximately 2:30 > > p.m. > > Fortunately, John Killian was able to deflect the pen slightly with > > his hand, possibly saving his own life. The pen punctured his hand, > > chin, and throat, and left a red ink scratch across his throat. > > A fellow student named Akbar Nazary grabbed Shuvender Sem and > > stopped the attack. > (snip) > > students were still in shock and some were crying. > > (big snip) > > If Levi Butler was in the classroom when Killian was assaulted......he knew of Sem's > unstable and dangerous nature. > > > F. Levi Butler's Murder > > Shuvender Sem moved from a table near where several students were > > seated to a seat next to Levi Butler. > > Akbar Nazary, who had subdued Shuvender Sem during the first attack, > > was alarmed to see Sem in the student dining hall and moved closer > > so that he could help again in the event of a second attack. > > Shuvender Sem asked Levi Butler where he was from. As Levi was > > responding, Sem suddenly jumped to his feet, screaming obscenities. > > Had Levi Butler just seen this move from Sem that very afternoon? If so, It was high > time to flee, no pardons necessary, for a quick exit from the table. > > > Sem then pulled from his coat a knife he had .... > > Most tragedies have many characters who individually contribute small clumbsy acts that > amalgamate into a horrifying climax. Levi Butler prior to his murder was likely not > removed from knowing Sem's pathos. The extent to which he could insulate himself from > Sem's madness was a misjudgment that ranks with the litany of complaints against MUM. >
Even assuming the worst -- that Butler was in the same class and saw Sem's "madness" -- remember that Sem was, calmly, eating dinner right up to the point where he jumped up, went into his verbal tirade, and then stabbed Butler to death. Indeed, Wysong, the Dean of Students, was sitting nearby, without interfering with Sem. Butler most likely would have been able to see this and assume that everything was fine with Sem. If, as you want us to assume, Butler was in the same class in the afternoon, then you are aware from reading the brief that Dillbeck proceeded with the class as if nothing had happened. And to continue with your worst-case assumption, it is reasonable to assume that Butler thought everything was allright...after all, if Dillbeck the professional is downplaying the seriousness of it, and the police weren't called, and Sem apologised to Killian, and Sem appeared at the dining hall and obviouslywasn't in police custody, then any reasonable person could assume that Sem was not a threat to anyone. So even assuming your worst case scenario, there is no way that Butler could be expected to, as you put it, "insulate himself from Sem's madness" because the authorities and school administration certainly did everything from their side to paint a picture of ABSENSE of madness. As for your suggestion that Butler made a "misjudgement that ranks with the litany of complaints againt MUM", well, I find such a suggestion that the victim -- who paid with his life! -- is somehow to blame for his own misfortune profoundly obscene, bordering on the pornographic. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
