I read with interest this morning the article in the Chronicle of Higher Education about the dean who tried to stop the shooting rampage last Friday at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. This dean, Debra Moriarity, after seeing two of her colleagues shot to death, crawled under the table and attempted to grab the legs of the shooter, professor Amy Bishop. In the end, it wasn't this action that saved anyone, but the notion that someone would risk their life (when fleeing may have been easier) is truly encouraging from a humanistic perspective. There is debate in the literature about whether or not altruism exists (mostly whether it is truly self-serving of perhaps only ego-boosting), but I'm less concerned at the moment about this debate and more with how people do, in many cases, seem to help others when they have nothing to gain - and perhaps everything to loose.
The site is down right now (overwhelming demand, perhaps?), but you may be able to see Dr. Moriarity's page here.
