We often attempt to compare or measure events to put things into a deeper perspective. Sometimes it's for understanding, other times it's to cope with a given circumstance.
One year after the death of sophomore Karl Harford and the aftermath that ensued, we find ourselves looking around for any noticeable changes. It's an extremely difficult task given the changes' subtle nature. As hard as we may try to aim our finger at these differences, we still find ourselves poking at thin air.
This is mostly because of the few, if any, tangible differences resulting from last year's tragedy. There is no giant memorial and no lasting physical impression; instead the feelings and thoughts we hold onto keep us reminded of Harford (and any related fallout) in a different way.
We now think twice before giving strangers rides home. While out on a weekend night, we second-guess ourselves at the sight of a police officer or the sound of a siren. Some students still chuckle at the phrase "Police Yourself," while others shiver at the concept for which it stood.
These experiences forcing these thoughts are the same, but our opinion and views of them vary from person to person. Something that, on the whole, has not changed at all.
By the time the 2003-04 academic session ended, a year of mourning and alarm had haunted students to a point of laughable paranoia. No longer were students living a consequence-free lifestyle; instead, the reality of authority figures and judgment calls weighed heavily on students' minds and decisions.
Still, it is that feeling and emotion carried with us in the back of our heads that follows us around to this very day. The emotions are unexplainable, at best, as words cannot truly describe how many of us have felt.
In the grand scheme of things, we are just a handful put in this situation. With each graduating senior and incoming freshman, the names of Michael McKinney and Karl Harford fade into the newsprint history books. Their stories and the lessons from them, however, will live on to a day when students only point of reference will be, "Wasn't there a story about a student who...?"
Meanwhile, in 2005, we still wonder how we've adjusted to these alterations to our daily lifestyle. Furthermore, we struggle to understand exactly what those alterations are.
All we can say about these changes is that we've simply experienced them -- however subtle and unidentifiable they may be.
And no matter how vague, these feelings will linger for some time to come.
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