2008 Woodie Awards
Shootings at NIU stir mixed reactions
Unpredictable nature of peoples' mental states makes campus security a challenge
John Sweeney
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: News
The recent shootings at Northern Illinois University (NIU) have triggered mixed reactions among students concerning the general safety of the campus.
In the wake of the Feb. 14 shootings, during which 27-year-old Steven Phillip Kazmierczak shot and killed five people, details have been emerging in regard to the mental state of the shooter. Seen as a respectful and committed student by friends and faculty at the university, it seems little could have been done to predict or prevent Kamierczak's rampage.
Junior Ashley Leamon, a resident assistant, said the unpredictable nature of individuals' mental states makes her job more difficult.
"It does make our job harder, and it worries me a little," Leamon said. "(Resident assistants) are trained to look for students who are troubled, who seem upset. This means we have to pay closer attention and make sure everyone's safe."
Leamon said that having seen what goes on behind the scenes of public safety makes her feel safe on campus.
"I think there's enough police," she said. "They'd act quickly enough if something were to happen. It would be taken care of in the best way possible."
Other students, such as junior Lance Butler, agree that the campus is relatively safe.
"I feel just as safe at Francis Marion as I would anywhere else," Butler said.
He said he thinks that, despite the unpredictable nature of Kamierczak's actions, there aren't many precautions that could have been taken to prevent it from happening.
"Stuff is going to happen regardless," Butler said. "Be it a crazy guy with mental issues or a straight-laced guy who's had no record. If something's going to happen, it's going to happen and you can't always catch it.
"You just have to hope that you're not at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Some students, however, say Francis Marion isn't as safe as it could be. Junior Matthew Dickinson said that, while the campus might feel safe, more can be done to prevent a tragedy from occurring.
"It does feel like we are pretty safe," Dickinson said. "But I don't think we have enough police presence or individual security in the dorms or anything."
Dickinson said that just because someone is seen as a "nice guy," it doesn't mean they are incapable of causing harm or that they are completely stable.
Kazmierczak was an NIU graduate with a degree in sociology. He was working toward getting a job in the prison system to work with prisoners concerning mental health issues.
In the wake of the Feb. 14 shootings, during which 27-year-old Steven Phillip Kazmierczak shot and killed five people, details have been emerging in regard to the mental state of the shooter. Seen as a respectful and committed student by friends and faculty at the university, it seems little could have been done to predict or prevent Kamierczak's rampage.
Junior Ashley Leamon, a resident assistant, said the unpredictable nature of individuals' mental states makes her job more difficult.
"It does make our job harder, and it worries me a little," Leamon said. "(Resident assistants) are trained to look for students who are troubled, who seem upset. This means we have to pay closer attention and make sure everyone's safe."
Leamon said that having seen what goes on behind the scenes of public safety makes her feel safe on campus.
"I think there's enough police," she said. "They'd act quickly enough if something were to happen. It would be taken care of in the best way possible."
Other students, such as junior Lance Butler, agree that the campus is relatively safe.
"I feel just as safe at Francis Marion as I would anywhere else," Butler said.
He said he thinks that, despite the unpredictable nature of Kamierczak's actions, there aren't many precautions that could have been taken to prevent it from happening.
"Stuff is going to happen regardless," Butler said. "Be it a crazy guy with mental issues or a straight-laced guy who's had no record. If something's going to happen, it's going to happen and you can't always catch it.
"You just have to hope that you're not at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Some students, however, say Francis Marion isn't as safe as it could be. Junior Matthew Dickinson said that, while the campus might feel safe, more can be done to prevent a tragedy from occurring.
"It does feel like we are pretty safe," Dickinson said. "But I don't think we have enough police presence or individual security in the dorms or anything."
Dickinson said that just because someone is seen as a "nice guy," it doesn't mean they are incapable of causing harm or that they are completely stable.
Kazmierczak was an NIU graduate with a degree in sociology. He was working toward getting a job in the prison system to work with prisoners concerning mental health issues.
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