Area Extras
Students everywhere thinking of NIU
Posted by: Meg Thilmony
Friday, February 15, 2008 3:55 PM
Not again.That was my first response to the news that a gunman opened fire on Northern Illinois University's campus yesterday.
My second was a panicked call to a dear friend who attends school there. Luckily, she was OK and off campus. She sounded worried about contacting her friends.
I can't imagine what she must've been going through. I can't imagine what any NIU students must be feeling.
But I know, even as a recent grad with a "real world" job, it's scary. What prevented the same thing from happening on campus here in Champaign-Urbana? And what's to prevent it from happening at Bradley, my alma mater, or any other college or high school around the country?
I've read news articles quoting students about the freedom of college campuses. People come and go. That's part of the deal: it's a time to make your own decisions and do what you wish.
Is that the reasons campuses seem to be a target?
What's the solution? The Chicago Tribune posted this story about how Thursday's events put NIU's carefully orchestrated alert system into use.
Other than that, what else can a campus do to keep its students safe? Even if someone noticed Stephen Kazmierczak on campus before he entered Cole Hall on Thursday, would they have stopped him? He was a former student; maybe he was just visiting.
Will campuses install metal detectors inside each building? Check ID cards? Require students to carry clear bags? While those precautions might work, it hardly seems like the right choice for an environment where students are supposed to mature into adults. But what else can be done?
I don't think anyone has those answers. But I know how deeply a school shooting can affect a college community. Last year, I was working at my weekly college newspaper when 33 people were killed on Virginia Tech's campus.
We ended up with a front page full of stories about the events: how our own alert system would work if needed, how our students were reacting to the tragedy. It seemed to affect everyone on our campus, even those without direct ties to Virginia Tech.
Now, practically next door, it seems to be hitting students hard. Many of my friends posted messages of hope, prayer and love on their Facebook profiles last night, to remember the NIU victims and encourage the rest.
And I guess that's all we can do at this point.
Comments
Something has to be done to stop this ignorance! But what?
Illinois is one of two states (the other being Wisconsin) that doesn't have the Concealed Carry law, so I'm surprised this hasn't happened here before now.
These terrorists choose school campuses, churches, shopping centers, etc. (not only in this state), because they know that the regular citizen is unarmed and vulnerable - defenceless in these "gun free zones". We are easy prey in these areas.
They also know that the police won't show up for several minutes - usually AFTER the deed is done. (Add in the time the police take to plan the assult on the perpetrator). So the killer knows he has plenty of time to complete his plan.
Concealed Carry could have possibly saved many lives, and prevented most of the injuries.
If someone intent on doing harm to another knew that such a law as CC was in effect in that area, he would at least consider the fact that his plan could fail, because he wouldn't know who was carrying and who was not.
Most criminals don't like the idea of their victim being able to defend him/herself and/or others. They like to be the one in control. They like knowing that THEY are the ones who decides who lives and who dies.
Uncertanty about who might be able to stop them tends to "ruin" their day.
Posted by flagtag on February 15, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Guns and violence are not the answer to guns and violence. I realize you're talking about defending yourself, but I just don't think it's the answer. I believe people would start using their weapons in everyday disputes. I don't know what the answer is and I'm not sure there is a clear-cut one. Sadly tragedies will always happen. Regardless of gun laws, regardless of prescription or non-prescription drugs and regardless of people playing violent video games. It's a sad reality. It's really alarming how things like these tend to repeat themselves.
Posted by Warriors0607 on February 18, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Guns and violence are not the
answer to guns and violence....
First, I'm definately in the realm of the Old Wild West method of gun control: Each town decides, and you check 'em at the town border. So in the whole 'guns save lives' debate, I tend to scoff at the whole 'save lives' part. So I guess I'd land in the pro-gun control camp...
That being said, many articles on the NIU disaster say the system worked as best as could be expected, 90 second response times, etc, and that this was not a 'bad kid/criminal,' and it couldn't be anticipated.
The stark reality of the recent shootings is that had just one person (such as the instructor) been armed and trained, then the death toll could've been much less. So better to say "Guns prevent guns from taking more lives"
If the present response system 'works as well as can be expected' then perhaps it is time to re-think the system. Obviously a 90-second response time was much too slow. Analysis and reworking systems is something our Universities should be able to do, right?
This of course does not answer the question 'what if the instructor is having a bad day/week/month?' But it is no worse than if an armed federal marshal/skycop/pilot has a bad day on the flight you're on, I guess...
So, when are the campus bookstores going to start including a .38 or a bulletproof vest on the semester's booklist...
I don't know what the answer is
and I'm not sure there is a
clear-cut one.
Please do not discount other's solutions without suggesting one yourself other than 'what will be, will be'. I don't much like the idea of an armed populace either; however I'm sure those parents would've been enternally grateful if someone was illegally carrying and took out the shooter.
Posted by dw on February 18, 2008 at 4:17 PM
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