We see it repeatedly on the news. A student is bullied or feels alienated at school and becomes so enraged that he or she retaliates by enacting violence on fellow classmates and/or faculty.
This unfortunately was the case for a local Ohio high school.
Tragedy struck Chardon High School on Monday, Feb. 27 when 17-year-old student TJ. Lane shot and killed three of his fellow classmates and injured two more. Lane has been charged with three juvenile counts of aggravated murder. If convicted, Lane will be forced to remain in a juvenile detention facility until he turns 21.
Acts of violence in schools have now become almost commonplace in our society.
It appears as though since the horrific shooting at Columbine High School (regularly referred to as the Columbine Massacre), school shootings have become a regular occurrence.
Contrary to popular belief, school shootings are not a new phenomenon. According to the National School Safety Center report, 84 homicides occurred in U.S. schools from 1992 to 1993. Despite there being a slight decline after 1993, numbers appear to have risen yet again after 1997.
Alarmingly, more and more students have resorted to bringing weapons to school.
According to the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence, a 2003 survey of high school students reported that 17.1% of students claimed to have carried a weapon to school during the 30 days preceding the survey. The survey also concluded that 57% of expulsions for bringing firearms to school involved high school students.
School shootings, however, are not confined to grades 9-12. They can occur at almost any grade level. Just five years ago, a shooting took place in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where college student Seung-Hui Cho claimed the lives of 32 people before turning the gun on himself.
With the apparent frequency of acts of violence in school, many are wondering if there is enough being done to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
Schools across the nation have gone to extremes to provide safety for their students and faculty by going as far as installing metal detectors on campuses. Other schools provide counseling and encourage students to seek help if they are feeling troubled.
Despite these improvements involving school safety, violence in schools continues to occur. As a result we must have to ask ourselves: are these precautions enough?
With the recent 10-year anniversary of the infamous Canisius bomb scare, Fairfield University students are reminded that school violence can occur almost anywhere.
While this incident may leave some to question the safety Fairfield University provides its students, many do not believe they are in any immediate danger.
“I don’t feel any danger on campus. I believe if my life were at stake, this University would ensure my safety, “ said Chelsea Pabon ’12. “I don’t think they can prevent it, but I feel comfortable with my life in their hands. I think they will do everything they can do to protect a member of the Fairfield Community.”
Pabon isn’t alone.
In my four years here I’ve always felt safe. I frequently see Public Safety officers patrolling our campus and find that they do a remarkable job to ensure my safety. Fairfield also provides a number of resources for students including psychological services, safe spaces and various other services for students who may be having a difficult time on campus.
That being said, to say a school can completely prevent an act of violence is illogical. At best, we can take measures to provide students with the resources they need to voice their concerns before taking matters into their own hands.
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