On Thursday, April 17th Florida State University’s campus was left devastated after a campus shooting took place around 12pm. The horrific event took the lives of two and left six injured. Within just the past academic year, studies have shown a rise in school shootings by 31%. While the topic has always been voiced about, the rise of gun violence is becoming more apparent.
On the day of April 17th, classes at FSU were in session and it was an average day for the students. Alerts were sent out at approximately 12:01pm but before that, many students didn’t know what was going on.
“I honestly was confused what was going on at first, but I knew to get inside,” said former Steinbrenner student and FSU freshman, Autumn Brown. Once alerts were sent out by the school, students locked themselves in the nearest building. Many barricaded classroom doors and elevators to ensure extra security.
In the state of Florida, all public schools are required to have law enforcement officers on campus. With some schools even having multiple, many precautions are taken to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
“I’ve been in law enforcement for 25 years and I see a lot more training with respect to active assailant shooters or active shooters,” said Steinbrenner’s deputy, Deputy Bennett. To make sure that not just the staff but also students are prepared, schools have taken the time to train for these situations, so people are aware of what to do if the event were to occur.
While classes have already resumed on FSU’s campus, students have not forgotten the event that happened and are finding many ways to honor those affected. To show their respect, students have left flower bouquets around the student union along with signs advocating for mental health awareness and gun control.
“The community has come together a lot with many organizations hosting events and the proceeds going to the victims…,” said former Steinbrenner student and FSU freshman Olivia Montgomery.
Moving forward, FSU has ensured students are aware of the help available on campus for them. The student union is being reopened April 28th, with a moment of reflection taking place beforehand to honor those who have been affected by this tragedy.
