LEWISTON, Maine – A message received on a Saturday night informed the recipient of an active shooter in the city of Lewiston, Maine. The information came from Bates Campus Safety and was followed by a BBC notification of a gunman on the loose with reports of at least 10 deaths. The individual, a former student of Bates College, now at Vanderbilt, felt a sense of dread for their old friends and professors in the small town.
The shooting resulted in 18 deaths, leaving the individual feeling fortunate to have transferred to Vanderbilt and fearful for the safety of loved ones who remained in Lewiston. The frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. has desensitized many to the point of banality, until it becomes personal. The individual felt like a witness to the catastrophe, despite being miles away from the violence.
The prospect of gun violence occurring on any university campus, including Vanderbilt, presents a cruel lottery of who, where, and when. The fear of becoming victims to the response of “thoughts and prayers” while the impacted individuals never recover looms large. The individual questions whether their school would break its policies of institutional neutrality in the face of such violence and the silence surrounding gun violence in the nation.
The fear of becoming the next victim of gun violence remains, prompting a call for universities to stand in solidarity with one another. The individual emphasizes the need for Vanderbilt to take a clear stance on improving gun control measures and to actively fight against violence. Current solutions, such as panels on gun violence, are seen as steps in the right direction, but further action is demanded.
In conclusion, the fear of gun violence remains palpable, and the call for universities to take a clearer stance on the issue is emphasized. The individual highlights the need for solidarity and proactive measures to address the ongoing threat of gun violence on university campuses.