Colleges must be proactive in preventing shootings
Watching the events that recently transpired at Delta State University in Mississippi has been tragic.
One of the last things on a college student’s mind is the possibility of violence. Sadly, this story is but one of many scattered across American history. If such tragedies occur too frequently, why have we not persisted in improving campus safety?
Instead of having to mourn the losses in the aftermath of another shooting, colleges must take the initiative to prevent future campus violence.
The obvious issue that is always prone to heated debate is gun control.
As the Obama administration has pressed for better gun control laws, many college presidents are weary of state laws forcing campuses to allow guns. Guns, the weapon of choice, are too easy to obtain. Gun distributors must enforce stricter measures, such as an age requirement and extensive background check for criminal activity, mental illness and substance abuse.
According to the Washington Post,
in the majority of mass shootings, the shooter acquired the weapon legally. It is also true that states with stricter gun laws experience fewer incidents of gun-related violence. If we continue to be lax in gun access, we will never progress toward school shooting prevention. If states are hesitant in passing any restrictive measures, colleges must serve as examples for the entire state and nation.
Another action colleges must take is better access to psychiatric treatment and awareness. As a community, we must each do our part in educating ourselves on the symptoms of common mental illnesses and taking the necessary steps when these signs are observed in a classmate or faculty member.
Also, counseling services should not hesitate to take further precautions if they suspect a severe, possibly violent condition. With the right medication and treatment, those suffering from mental illness can avert future ideas of violence.
Every significantly awful event is the result of smaller instances of violence happening without recognition. These instances include everything from petty theft to sexual harassment. If we remain ignorant to seemingly everyday crimes, we are harming any efforts toward campus safety.
Some colleges practice a “broken window” policy when regarding such crimes. Proven to create a greater sense of safety on New York City streets in the 1990s, the principle is simple: If someone breaks a window in a building and that window is not repaired, people will believe that it is okay to break more windows, leading to further damage to the building. If the first window is repaired, it shows that breaking windows is unacceptable.
To apply this philosophy to a campus, we must care for every person attending the university. This includes increasing lighting and overall cleanliness across campus and expressing any concerns to a staff member. Actually pay attention to the Title XI Training the university provides. An environment that doesn’t tolerate small acts of violence is one that prevents all acts of violence.
Tragedies such as Delta State leave the nation with many questions. The most important question we must ask, however, is “What can we do to prevent further violence on college campuses?” We already have many answers to this question. Now is the time to implement them.
