Students feeling defeated by violence

They live in a violent world, but also a free country, and they felt helpless to prevent such slaughter as took place Monday at Virginia Tech.

"I don't think there is anything we can do," said Elizabeth Ellis, a senior at Cheyney University. "Violence is outrageous. I have a daughter, and I'm thinking of homeschooling her."

Ellis and other students visiting The Inquirer yesterday expressed overwhelming frustration in the aftermath of the massacre at Virginia Tech.

Stephen Walsh, a junior, said he tries to be positive, and upbeat, but the world keeps intruding. "Despite trying to walk on a good path," he said, "I encounter violent images and ideas 50 times a day."

Chanel Fladger, a sophomore, said: "This world is so corrupted. There is violence everywhere you go. They need to break down this world and start over. Honestly, we need a new world."

Thirteen of the 26 students, including a few from Holy Family University and Gwynedd-Mercy College, said they knew people personally who had guns. None said they had a gun. Twelve said they wanted more gun control.

"Had there been no gun," said April Potts, a Cheyney student, "there'd be no massacre."

"I don't think you can prevent it," Cheyney senior Vernard Thompson said of rampages like Monday's, in which 32 people were killed. "Schools are open."

But many of the students said they felt, from what they had read and heard, that Virginia Tech had let its students down by not notifying them immediately after the first shooting of two people in a dormitory.

They hoped all universities would learn from this.

"You can't prevent these acts of violence," said Arnold Lawrence, a Cheyney junior. "But you need a better plan in cases of disaster, a horn or a siren, a code, a Mayday signal, something better."

Cheyney senior Michael Page added: "I am different than I was yesterday. I have a different perception of my campus safety and safety in the world. I hope universities take something from the mistakes at Virginia Tech and implement plans so this won't happen elsewhere."

There was a cadre of students who felt that the solution must begin with individuals.

These students had no idea who the killer was, or what his situation was, but felt intrinsically that he was alienated, aloof.

"I think it goes back to the old-fashioned rule of know your neighbor," said Arlydia Goodman. "Police it yourself. If you had a social group that took an interest in you, you wouldn't slip through the cracks."

Students need to take personal responsibility, said Chioma Ugwuegbulem, a student from Nigeria. "Eliminate the idea of 'no snitching.' Whoever knew he had a gun should have spoken up."