Dying to Go to School

Another day, another class, another shooting. This time senseless acts of violence were carried out at Northern Illinois University. A 27 year old graduate student killed five students and himself in a lecture hall. This shocking incident occurs in the wake of the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. As a student, these stories of campus violence lead to one frustrated demand: WHY? These last two shootings did not occur at large inner city universities. They were at relatively isolated universities in college towns. The idea that geography keeps us safe from all things bad is shattered.

As a native of the Washington Metropolitan area I have experienced what it is like to be targeted by a gunman. In 2002 the so called Beltway sniper filled news outlets. 3 people were injured from these attacks, and 10 were killed, including a resident of my neighborhood. He was simply walking out of a Shopper's Food Warehouse and was shot. For nearly a month the entire area lived in fear that every white delivery van housed the sniper. Citizens were informed to walk in zig-zags down the sidewalk so as not to be an easy target. Children were forbidden from going outside.

While universities have responded to the recent shootings, it is hard to justify having first responders to a shooting. While it can prevent massive deaths like the V-Tech shootings, when it comes to guns what's done is done. What are universities to do about the protection of its students? I don't students will join the zig-zag club on campus, and no one will stand for metal detectors at the doors to lecture halls.

The two joining factors at both NIU and V-Tech were that the gunmen had histories of mental health problems. Perhaps a more effective step is to check the mental health of accepted students to university. This is not to alienate those with legitimate problems or to stigmatize mental health, but the safety of students is worth it. I know students who would be nice to others because they did not want to be targeted by them when they "snapped." It's important to protect the rights and lives of students and unless someone has a better idea, the first place to start may be with mental health screenings.

Dane Cook hits a little closer to home than expected.