Local students express concerns

By STEPHANIE HARRIS THOMAS, Hope Star Writer
Published: Friday, April 20, 2007 6:21 PM CDT

Students at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, as well as universities across Arkansas, are feeling the pain of the Virginia Tech student body.

The tragic deaths at Virginia Tech have them feeling anxious about a place where they have always felt safe. But, UACCH students did not mind sharing their feelings and reactions about the shootings on Monday which left 33 people dead.

"It makes you take a second thought about coming to school every day," Lacey Brent, a nursing student said.

One student showed an expression of disbelief and sorrow when asked what was his reaction to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

"I don't really know what to say about it," student Jason Lamb said after a long silent pause. "It is taking its toll on everyone, especially everyone going to a university.

"It also has parents worried about their sons or daughters being at a university," he said.

"It was a horrible thing that happened...a tragedy. It is kind of scary too," LPN student Quana Ellis said. "It is really an eye-opener."

"It makes you think," Chelsea Johnson, also a nursing student said.

"Anything can happen at any given time," Lamb said.

Another nursing major again reacted with fear.

"Red flags were raised. They had warnings and they did not take heed. It is scary," Chelsea Johnson said.

"I hope it does not happen here," Rebecca Allen said.

Some students simply did not understand.

"When they found two people shot they should have closed the school," said Ashley Linzy.

Reacting to the accusations he had heard about the shootings, another student, James Stuart, said, "There's a lot of second guessing going on right now."

Stuart said he did not really see that tightening of security would make a big difference in such a situation.

"You would have to have guard shacks at every entrance and door," he said. "I think if someone wanted to do something like that they would some way, somehow to take out there frustrations."

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Original Source: <a href="http://www.hopestar.com/articles/2007/04/20/news/news1.txt">http://www.hopestar.com/articles/2007/04/20/news/news1.txt</a>

Licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5</a>.

Stephanie Harris Thomas

2007-06-01

Brent Jesiek

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5

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