Brown University students should be on their beautiful campus in Providence, Rhode Island. Instead, they’re heading home early during finals week after a tragic shooting on Saturday led the Ivy League school to cancel exams.
For many students, this homecoming is mixed with sadness. Dani Sinai, a junior, shared her experience: “In South Florida, we practiced for emergencies, but you never think it will happen to you. I was in the library when it occurred, and I’m not sure I’ll feel safe returning there.”
Another student, Avery Rudlich, showed a video of her and her roommates barricading themselves in their dorm room. “Thoughts and prayers from leaders won’t keep us safe,” she said. “We were working on finals one moment, and the next, it felt surreal knowing someone was gone.”
With the cancellation of finals, many students struggled to get home due to the cost of last-minute flights. Recent grad Autumn Wong stepped up to help. “I was awake from midnight to 4 a.m. buying flights for people,” she recalled. Unable to cover all the costs alone, she reached out to the South Florida Brown alumni network and started a GoFundMe. It raised over $12,000, helping students, including those from abroad, get home. Any leftover funds will be donated to aid the victims.
“I’m really proud of how our community came together,” Wong said. Meanwhile, students arriving at the airport expressed relief, yet they’re still processing the trauma. Two students lost their lives, and nine were hurt. “We are mourning for them. No one should feel this kind of fear,” Rudlich added.
As students think about returning to campus, concerns linger, especially since the shooter is still at large. “But what can we do? Life must go on,” said David Sinai, Dani’s father. He emphasized trusting that safety measures will be in place when classes resume.
In today’s world, gun violence on campuses is all too common. According to a recent report by the Gun Violence Archive, there were over 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2022 alone. This reality impacts students and parents alike, creating an atmosphere of anxiety about school safety.
Across social media, reactions have flooded in. Many express anger over constant shootings, while others share supportive messages and call for change. The conversation highlights a deeper issue: how can we ensure schools are safe spaces for learning and growing?
As Brown University confronts these challenges, it serves as a reminder that the safety of students must be a priority. The efforts of the Brown community in the wake of this tragedy show resilience and solidarity in pushing for a better future.
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