Orionna Brumfield
Staff Writer
Universities across the nation are proactively tacking the issue of campus safety when the unexpected happens.
The recent campus shooting on Sept. 14 at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. brought this issue even closer to home for the Jackson State University community.
Jackson State currently has emergency plans in place to handle emergencies including Everbridge Aware, which enables emergency response team members to communicate with students, faculty, and staff in minutes by sending a message via a number of contact methods – email, text messaging, and cell phones.
Students, staff and faculty can also report suspicious behavior and persons through the Red Flag reporting system located on the University’s website.
All faculty and staff were also required to complete active shooter training this semester to prepare for active shooter situations.
News of the shooting of Professor Ethan Schmidt by former Professor Shannon Lamb in his office at DSU quickly spread throughout campus via news alerts, emergency text messages from university officials and social media.
Edward Williams, a DSU sophomore mathematics major from Jackson, Miss. has classes in the building Schmidt was shot in.
“I think how if the shooter had waited just a day, how much more danger I could have been in… I learned to value these numbered days I have on this earth because it is a blessing to be alive,” said Williams.
During the incident, students stated on local newscasts that professors made sure that the students stayed somewhere safe in the campus buildings.
Not only was safety a priority in the buildings on campus, but students made sure to contact their friends, family, or loved ones by text messages or phone calls to let them know that they were safe.
LeDarion Robinson, a DSU senior exercise science major from Raymond, Miss. immediately thought of his line brothers after the shooting occurred.
“I went to go find my line brothers and we stayed in the apartment complex off campus… I went back on campus to pick my other line brother up because he needed a way home,” said Robinson.
The incident at DSU could have happened anywhere. A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday night in honor of Professor Schmidt. Many people mourned over the loss of him as professor and his past commitment to the university .
“The toughest thing for me is that I look at the professor and see that he has three kids, a wife, and their lives have been completely impacted and ruined at this point,” said Professor Ramsey, an adjunct professor at Jackson State University from Jackson Miss.
Some of the students interviewed stated that this incident reminds them of how important life is.
“Always let the people you know that you love them because you never know when that’s their last goodbye,” said Robinson.
