Strange Labels

General Disclaimer: The shooting at the state capitol building in Springfield, IL, was horrible. A security guard perished when some deranged young man shot him in the chest while storming the capitol. Since then, it has been reported that the young suspect suffers from schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

With that as a preface, I have one question: Is it really necessary for the press to label this kid "the college dropout":

From the Tribune 9/24/04: "Local police on Thursday defended the actions of an officer who handcuffed but then released Derek Potts on a city street this week less than an hour after the 24-year-old college dropout allegedly shot and killed a security guard in the Illinois Capitol."

From Trib 9/23/04 (lead): "The college dropout charged with murdering a security guard in the Illinois Capitol this week has been in and out of mental institutions five times and has told family members that he sometimes hears voices, his mother said Wednesday."

Trib 9/22/04 (lead): "A college dropout arrested Tuesday in the shooting death of an unarmed guard in the Illinois Capitol has a history of mental illness and has not been taking medication, prosecutors said as Derek W. Potts, 24, was ordered held in lieu of $20 million bail."

Maybe I have too much time on my hands (which I don't). Maybe I'm just sensitive to the plight of collegiate dropouts across this great land. Or maybe I just find it strange that the suspect is labeled a "college dropout" rather than, say, a "high school dropout" or "junior high dropout." Last time I looked, college wasn't compulsory. Students take semesters off. Some are in and out of college for decades. A great number don't even attend.

So, for the love of Pete, Dear Tribune, Times-Picayune, Aberdeen Free Press, Baltimore Sun, Harpers, call him something else: murderer, assassin, butcher, criminal, cutthroat, gunman, hit man, killer, piece pan, slaughterer, slayer, trigger man....

Maybe I should get back work, singing Abe's new song.