BALTIMORE — Morgan State University’s Center for Urban Violence and Crime Reduction is hosting a conference to tackle the serious issue of gun violence on college campuses.
The event, taking place in downtown Baltimore, follows a frightening incident during the university’s homecoming in October 2023, when shots were fired on campus, injuring five people, including four students.
Jared Patterson, a senior at Morgan State, was near the shooting. “It was terrifying. No one knew where the shots were coming from,” he recalled. As a panelist at the conference, he emphasized the importance of the student perspective. “This affects our education and safety. It’s crucial we address it,” he said.
The growing concern over gun violence in colleges cannot be ignored. Morgan State reports over 300 gunfire incidents on campuses across the U.S. from 2013 to 2023.
Dr. Von E. Nebbitt, Director of the Center for Urban Violence and Crime Reduction, is leading research on this topic. Requested by the university president to delve into the issue, he noted a lack of existing research on shootings at colleges. “This is a major opportunity for us to lead in understanding this problem,” Dr. Nebbitt stated.
College leaders from all over the country are present to discuss preventive measures. They are focusing on topics such as emergency response, mental health support, and policy development. “There is no single cause for this. We need to grasp the complexities of the issue,” explained Dr. Anna McPhatter, the founding dean of social work at Morgan State.
The conference aims to spark conversations that can lead to effective strategies to keep students safe and reduce incidents of gun violence on campuses.
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Source linkGun violence ,Gun violence on college campuses ,Morgan State University ,Morgan State University's Center for Urban Violence and Crime Reduction
