Although we might not think about it every day, the Virginia Tech shootings have undoubtedly left a lasting mark on those of us in college when it happened.
Whether you scout the best escape route in your class the first day, jump every time a book falls to the floor or watch like a hawk people who walk into class late, there is likely some part of your daily life that has been affected by Virginia Tech.
Universities across the country have changed their standard operating procedures in crisis situations as well. Ball State University, however, did not have much to change.
We were ahead of the curve.
Some schools have turned to profiling students in efforts to preempt shootings. However, because not many school shootings have happened, the subject pool from which to make a profile is limited.
Ball State, instead of making a generalized profile of someone who could potentially be violent, has a database of complaints filed by concerned students, faculty and staff members.
For eight years, a group has met monthly to discuss when complaints for one person are showing up in departments. In the ideal situation, this meeting would alert university officials to students who seem to be exhibiting dangerous behavior before a violent incident could occur.
Although having a meeting convene for the sole purpose of discussing the stability of students is a little unnerving, perhaps it's the best way to prevent events such as the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University shootings.
It's important for faculty and staff to watch for warning signs in students, however, the responsibility is not all theirs.
Students should learn that we are responsible for not only ourselves, but those around us as well.
In any given situation, students spend more time with each other than they ever will with professors. Therefore, if people around you are exhibiting signs of being a threat to themselves or others, it is your responsibility to let someone know.
Our best chance at avoiding an incident like Virginia Tech is to pay attention to those around us.
We aren't saying that you should suspect everyone in your class of being on the verge of a shooting spree. But by truly listening to what your peers are talking about you could assist in preventing a shooting on campus.
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