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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Tragic shooting raises security concerns

Fear and disbelief hit students across the country after news broke of the massacre at Virginia Tech that left at least 33 dead, including the gunman. Our condolences go to the students and families who have suffered loss and injury at the hands of a clearly disturbed individual.

Little is known about the shooter and his motives for committing this horrendous crime, but there's no excuse for taking the life of another student. The death toll in Blacksburg, Va., makes this tragedy the deadliest mass shooting in American history, The Associated Press reported.

As with previous shootings, this incident makes students, faculty and staff at all educational institutions question the safety of their campuses. Even though campus security can take precautions against attacks such as Monday's massacre, the reality is we are never truly safe.

To prevent further tragedies, students, faculty and staff should take it upon themselves to protect their campuses. If you observe a friend or classmate acting out of character, talk to them. Talk to someone. Don't let the issue sit idle. You'd be surprised at the power of a few simple words of concern.

If you notice a suspicious person in your building, parking lot or other campus area, report them. Don't be afraid to speak up. Campus security needs us to do their jobs better and more efficiently — police can't know where to go or what to do if we don't tell them. And don't be afraid that you're being paranoid. 

As unusual as a tragedy like the one that occurred Monday is, questioning your surroundings and the people around you could save not only your life but others as well.

As we mourn the deaths and pray for the recovery of the injured, let's band together to try to ensure this does not happen on any campus again.