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Recent threats of violence near Syracuse University’s campus have caused students to feel unsafe and anxious. In times like these, people should remain vigilant and prepare for the event of any potential campus emergency.

Colleges can feel like their own bubbles, occupied with their own campus police patrollers and security units. However, the border of SU’s bubble has been pierced by crime in recent weeks, with a deadly shooting close to campus and false reports of gunshots at the New York State Fair.

These events are in line with the Syracuse metropolitan area’s scores of violent crime and property crime ranking higher than the national rate, per the U.S. News and World Report. This rise in recent criminal activity around the areas near SU’s campus make it feel more dangerous than ever, according to students.

Although it can feel like SU’s safety protocols are overkill with high numbers of Department of Public Safety officers driving around and blue-light emergency stations installed on nearly every street corner, these measures are in place because colleges should feel safe and secure. We as students are young adults navigating the challenges of living away from home, and should feel empowered to connect and explore life on campus.

I knew before applying to SU that parts of the city are riddled with crime, but I had not felt truly terrified of the crime in Syracuse until recently. On my way into the Fair last weekend, I noticed an unusually high number of state troopers on the fairgrounds directing traffic and standing guard. I wondered why the county had enlisted specially trained law enforcement for the fair and deemed the swaths of troopers overkill for the job, at first.

But when what seemed like thousands of people began running and pushing against the crowd toward the road and away from Rick Ross’s hyped set at the Fair, I was separated from half my friends. I felt I was running for my life. State troopers rushed the field with guns and barking German Shepherds toward what was revealed to be a false threat of a shooting in the crowd. I praised my instincts for following the herd and pulling my friends close. I then felt an immense gratitude for what I previously considered overkill on safety measures and to the Fair for shutting down its festivities early.

Earlier that weekend, 15-year-old Alexcia Lynch was shot and killed on Madison Street.

“Campus feels less safe than before,” SU junior Abigail Luca told me, one of many students who are now grappling with feelings of anxiety surrounding the violence close to campus. “I never used to feel afraid leaving my house, but now I second guess myself,” Luca said.

Her notion that school feels less safe now that a shooting has occurred nearby correlates with other students nationwide, as 65% of students in a 2022 survey said school shootings impact their sense of safety on campus.

Knowing how to act when faced with adversity in a new environment, like in and around campus, is more critical than ever. We now know how close tragedy can strike – the shooting of Lynch occurred in a spot frequented by SU students, like those who live in the Campus Prime, U Point and The 505 on Walnut apartments.

Sophia Burke | Design Editor

The United States has experienced 13 shootings on college campuses since the 1960s, including a recent streak. There was a shooting at the University of Virginia in 2022, another in 2023 at Michigan State University and another one later last year at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Each shooting took three lives, not including the injured or traumatized. This is a terrifying trend in campus life. For those looking for a way to ease their anxiety, it pays off to be ready for any crisis.

Some safety precautions such as carrying pepper spray are seen as a gendered construct, but they are not and should not be considered as such. I strongly encourage male students around campus to carry a disabling spray, as it is a nonlethal method of defense and safer than a knife or firearm, which, instead of helping, increases violence.

Although a fatal shooting off of SU’s campus is out of the university’s control, the high concentration of students living nearby its location make it SU’s responsibility to support students after a traumatizing experience. I speak with a therapist about my emotions and hardships but often find myself in the minority of my peers currently meeting with a psychologist.

SU provides more than a few options for students suffering mental health concerns from recent tragedies to reach out and speak up about what they’re facing. The Barnes Center at The Arch offers counseling with licensed, professional therapists. For those experiencing a mental health crisis on campus, there is someone waiting on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (315) 443-8000. This number can also be accessed for a same-day appointment.

SU is prepared to protect its students in times of emergency, but it’s critical that students know how to act when lives are at stake. In a safety instruction video produced by DPS, safety officials urge students to “Run, Hide, Fight.” In any potential active shooter situation, follow the herd at first like I did at the Fair, then look for a covert spot to hide from the shooter.

Additionally, if you see a weapon or a crime occurring, it’s vital to dial the DPS phone number at (315) 443-2224. The local officers can respond even quicker to locations on campus.

We are not invincible, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry or hurt. Know what to do and who to go to when you feel alone and scared; SU will do its part as we do ours in maintaining a safe and respect-driven campus community.

James Hoagland is a junior Magazine, News and Digital Journalism major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at jhoaglan@syr.edu.

Published on September 10, 2024 at 12:12 am