By Tessa Barbeau
As violence continues to weave itself in and out of United States society and media outlets, there is one event that has continued to cause disturbance across college campuses: the stabbing of four college students in Moscow, Idaho. This chilling tale has yet to be solved, but has engrossed audiences across the world, serving as a particularly alarming case for those of us at university. Just like many students at The George Washington University, the victims lived off-campus, returning home from a night out the evening before their deaths. Despite Moscow, Idaho being a relatively rural area, the story and legacy of these students will forever be carried throughout the university and town.
University students these days come from a generation that grew up with mass shootings every other week, lockdown drills starting in elementary schools, and a growing list of places that need to be attended with caution. Reflecting on our campus here at GW, in downtown Washington, D.C., it’s alarming to come to terms with the idea that acts like these can occur anywhere. Coming to college has made me aware that I’m not only at a greater risk of being harmed simply by being at school–an already shocking concept–but also that nowadays college students need to be vigilant all the time given that we live where we learn. The Idaho stabbings have made this even more clear.
Although these stabbings aren’t directly related to gun violence, it rings a similar bell. Since childhood, my generation has asked for the simple right to be safe at school. That wish was never granted, and now that we are of voting age, the option to change this unfortunate reality is in our hands more than ever before.
If you are interested in doing more to address gun violence and advocate for prevention measures, consider reading this article from Prevention Institute with recommendations for how to take action. To learn more about how different organizations are approaching this critical issue, spend some time researching organizations such as Everytown or Sandy Hook Promise and take some time to consider your position on the issue.
If you are concerned about a peer and their behavior, submit a CARE report here. If you believe you are facing an immediate threat please call GW’s Emergency Support Services/GWPD at 202-994-6111.
