Mass killer Breivik to study at Oslo University, from jail
Source: Reuters
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik won a place on Friday to study at Oslo University from solitary confinement in prison, despite outrage at his massacre of 77 people four years ago.
"He meets the admission requirements. We stick to our rules and he will be admitted," Oslo University rector Ole Petter Ottersen told Reuters, saying prisoners are eligible to study as long as their academic grades are good enough.
Many were appalled when Breivik, who holds far-right anti-Muslim views and has shown no remorse, applied for the three-year bachelor's course in political science. Some students now at the university survived his attacks, while others had friends or relatives killed.
"I realise there are many feelings involved here. He tried to demolish the system. We have to stay faithful to it," Ottersen said. The course includes study of democracy, human rights and respect for minorities.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/17/uk-norway-breivik-university-idUKKCN0PR1D720150717?utm_source=twitter
I know Norway has more enlightened views on imprisonment, but wow...
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)Good. I have no problem with this. Hopefully, he will learn how wrong he was and what a terrible crime he committed.
salimbag
(173 posts)Maybe the reading required for the degree will change his perspective. Insanity is difficult to cure, but he will have the opportunity.
Warpy
(111,407 posts)because some of them can be salvaged.
I doubt Brevik will ever see life as a free man, even Norway's tolerance has limits, but if he becomes a jailhouse lawyer, that can help him salvage his life behind bars instead of living in boredom, frustration, and ever building fury.
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)they're there says a lot about a society.
udbcrzy2
(891 posts)I cannot stand this guy. He's serving a 21-year sentence and has an extremely large cell because they don't want him to have contact with the other inmates because of his radical ideas.
'MURDERER Anders Breivik threatened to go on hunger strike for better video games and other perks to alleviate his torture-like prison conditions'
http://www.thejournal.ie/anders-behring-hunger-strike-1316817-Feb2014/
enough
(13,266 posts)Given that, my mind reacted in fury to this news. But I'm willing to believe there's a better way, and this may be an example. Don't know.
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)who might have to grade some of his work.
He is going to study political science. In 2013 his application was rejected for not having adequate academic preparation, so perhaps he spent some time studying:
http://www.thejournal.ie/oslo-university-refuses-breivik-application-1024426-Aug2013/
I admire Norway for refusing to change its ways because this mass-murderer did what he did. He wanted to change Norway.
Studying might at least make it easier for the prison authorities that have to deal with this unpleasant, narcissistic personality. Let him develop another interest than claiming the prison authorities are torturing him.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)It is about the rest of us. The way we treat our fellow beings (even the worst of them) says a lot about us.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)There isn't anything technically wrong with this, but for some reason it rubs me the wrong way.
I teach as an adjunct, and this seems wrong.
Most classes you want the students to be teachable and open to new ideas. Being a racist mass murderer with no remorse seems like that would kind of not meet that condition. To say the least.
ck4829
(35,094 posts)And if it's not sincere, then no grade for him
Telcontar
(660 posts)If so, Norway is way around the bend.
If it's distance learning, here read the book kinda thing, then ok.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Even in the USA constant 24/7 TV and radio should play education material ONLY and music. choice of movies could be used as a reward.
And don't let the American prison guards have access to volume control or the sadists will use it to abuse prisoners.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)scores of people doesn't disqualify you from entrance to a university, what does?
Exultant Democracy
(6,594 posts)And they won't let him.
Their justice system evolved beyond vengeance, and the understand they can keep their humanity and keep themselves safe from this monster at the same time.
If this were the US we would be well on our way to executing the him, lie we did Tim Mcveigh. Which is more dangerous Tim Mcveigh the martyr, or an Anders Breivik mewling about the injustice of only getting a ps2 and not a ps3 to play in his solitude?
I also do not think we know enough about he minds of these type of mass murderers to sneer at the fact that the ambitious staff at this University are getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to study one of these abominations.
LuckyLib
(6,821 posts)with the instructor and fellow students in ways that encourage dialog, exchanges of ideas, and reflections on the reading and others' thoughts. Personally, I wouldn't want to be in a class with him, since he'd be likely to rant, and the creepiness factor would be high.
If it's just a correspondence course? Perhaps he can learn something from the readings.
Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)They do not give him Internet access.