We appreciate the increases in security Pearl River Community College is adding to protect students and reduce risk. While we live in a safe community, we must realize one lone disturbed individual can create a lot of misery in a movie theater, in a shopping center or on a college campus and Pearl River Community college can’t afford to not be prepared.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US leads the world in mass shootings. How bad is it? Shootingtracker.com, a website that tracks mass shootings, reports there have been 300 mass shootings in the US this year. This Wednesday was the 286th day of the year.
While it may be difficult if not impossible to totally eliminate the threat posed by a potential shooter, by drilling campus police and by giving clear instructions to students, staff and faculty before any incidents, the college can greatly reduce the confusion and the potential for injury or death. We are happy to report in today’s paper that the college is fully engaged in these preventative activities. PRCC is doing more to prevent other crime, too.
Beside mass shooting incidents, colleges must contend with the possibility of more everyday crimes including domestic abuse, rape, robbery and assault—all the same crimes that can occur off campus in any city or town. To reduce such instances, the school has recently installed more lighting and cameras and they have made access to women’s dormitories more difficult for non-residents. In addition, the school holds regular safety meetings with students, instructing them on how to stay safe.
In the wake of so many mass shootings, there is an ongoing national debate about gun laws and mental healthcare. These debates may shape national policy or even state policy, but whatever changes come will take many months and maybe years to implement. In the meantime, we are happy to report our local leaders are using the tools at hand to keep community college students safe.