How safe are we on college campuses

At a time when gun violence is rampant across schools and college campuses in the US, concerns arise for students who question if they feel safe enough to continue their pursuit of education the traditional way.

CNN reports that as of September 23rd, there have been 53 shootings on school campuses so far this year in the US, along with the very public assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus on September 10th.

During a time in our country when emotions are high, the question of whether or not students feel safer attending campus in person or online is a growing conversation. 

While SMC offers in-person classes, the college also provides a wide range of online courses. This might be the way to go for prospective student Rex Massian. Massian, 54, spoke about his own anxieties when considering taking in-person classes in the future, “I just don’t know if attending on campus is something I would want to do. Lately, all you hear about is shootings and attacks. It’s all too much.” Massian continues, “I’ve been considering maybe taking classes online to begin with, and then maybe in the future I’ll think about in-person.”

 Santa Monica College is no stranger to gun violence tragedies on campus. In 2013, six people lost their lives, including the gunman after he went on a shooting rampage that left behind a trail of devastation and destruction. The shooter, who was identified as 23 year old former SMC student John Zawahri, was later shot and killed by police during a tense shootout at the SMC main campus library. Years later bad memories were forced to be revisited, after Custodial Operations Manager Felicia Hudson was shot and killed by fellow SMC custodian Davon Dean at the SMC center for media and design on October 14th, 2024. 

Psychologist Dr. Bonnie Tauber says the issue is deeper than just on campus safety, she said, “The problem might be more systemic, starting with the ease of weapon availability.” When asked about what changes she thinks could be implemented on campus, Tauber said, “Being a mental health provider, I think perhaps more screening and availability of mental health resources may be beneficial and preventative.” 

With mixed feelings about safety on campus, the heightened awareness remains. With colleges offering more online classes, students are now better equipped to make their own decisions and determine whether they want to achieve their educational goals online or in person.