Deadly Scholarship: The True Story of Lu Gang and Mass Murder in America's Heartland

by Edwin Chen

November 1, 1991, the scene: a serene Midwestern college campus, the University of Iowa, the last place one would expect mass murder to occur. And yet, incredibly, it happens. After the smoke has cleared, six people are dead, one is paralyzed for life, and there are many questions that need to be answered. This is no "ordinary" drive-by shooting at a fast food restaurant, nor is it the case of a disgruntled former employee seeking revenge on his supervisors. These tragic murders have been committed by a brilliant Chinese graduate exchange student, a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Iowa's prestigious Department of Physics and Astronomy. Among the dead is another top student, three faculty members, and one of the university's associate vice presidents, whose duties, ironically, included dealing with student grievances - just like the ones apparently harbored by the murderer.

Deadly Scholarship, written by award-winning Los Angeles Times journalist Edwin Chen, seeks to answer the questions in the case. As the author delves into the lives of the victims and the murderer to determine why this tragedy ever happened, we learn of the cut-throat competition among foreign scholars on America's campuses. Few people can imagine the fierce pressure brought to bear by state and family on these young people far from home, and their hellish lives as they struggle to achieve more than most would consider humanly possible. The book hauntingly details how real people found themselves swept up in a spiraling web of ambition, achievement, exploitation, despair, and death that in the end spared none of them.

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Mary Loeffelholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a student at Iowa during most of this time and so much of this was familiar to me. Great book w insight into this awful tragedy and the lives of all involved. Sad time for Hawkeye Nation.

[Joe Rodeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good one-step-at-a-time true account of an infamous mass murder. The players are primarily two Chinese students and their profs: the academic elite involved in the high stakes games involving scholarships, grants, and fellowships possibilities.
One gets a good feel for the rigorous Chinese educational system where only few advance to higher levels. As well, we get a feel for what it's like to be a non-English speaking international student in Middle America (Univ of Iowa).
The tone is serious--not a trashy pot boiler. The astro-physics is kept to a minimum.

[Lifeng Wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author is probably a Chinese guy born in America , an ABC. His understanding of China and the Chinese is more from an American perspective. The Chinese are more sophisticated than author would assume. Ending of book is abrupt and sudden conclusions were drawn.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Born and raised in Iowa City and having attended the University of Iowa when this happened, I read this to get an accurate account of what happened. It follows his story. I gained some insight to his character. Was telling without taking an overly sympathetic stance.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5