The more that I read about the alleged bomb plot at the University of Central Florida, the more it scares me.
Fortunately, the student did not carry out his plans for the massacre, but ABC News reports: “Police said that he had four homemade IEDs that were laced with shrapnel in a backpack in his room, in addition to the guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.”
This is a scary reminder that no matter how many safeguards schools and universities put into place, there still is a chance that something can go awry and put students in danger. I think many of us this week were reminded of the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in December — and were thankful that this situation did not escalate to that level.
While it is normal to feel frightened, it’s important that we learn and improve to prevent something like this from happening again.
So, what can we learn from this horrible and frightening situation?
Report suspicious activity
It could be anything from a student who doesn’t look familiar hanging out on your hallway to a roommate who seems to be more depressed than usual.
If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Trust your gut. It is much, much better to be proactive than reactive.
I know that you could be concerned that things could become awkward between you and your roommate if you report them, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. You may just be able to get your roommate the help he/she needs but is too scared to ask for.
Prepare yourself
The easiest way to prepare yourself for a dangerous situation like this one is to have both the numbers for campus police and your Resident Adviser programmed into your phone. Obviously, if it’s an emergency, you’ll want to call 911. But if it’s something that is less urgent but still suspicious, you’ll want to contact campus police.
For issues/concerns about a roommate, first try talking to your RA and see what advice he/she gives you. Your RA is trained to help deal with situations like these and will be able to handle it with more experience than you will be able to. If needed, your RA will also be able to get supervisors involved to make sure that the situation is handled properly.
Also, it’s important to know all of the available exits out of your dorm. In the event that the elevators or the main stairwell become impassable, you’ll want to have a backup method for escaping if a dangerous situation arises.
Know how to defend yourself
While the alleged plotter’s roommate was able to think quickly on his feet and slam the bathroom door to protect himself, not everyone will be able to figure out the safest reaction as quickly.
Train yourself on what you need to do in an active shooter situation to defend yourself in case of an attack. The following video, entitled “Run. Hide, Fight,” is a must-watch for everyone.
Remember: You have the power to help prevent something horrible from happening. Have the courage to speak up, and you could save lives.
