Indiana not immune to college violence

It happened. Virginia Tech. Northern Illinois University. A student or former student opened fire on classmates killing and injuring them.

Although violence of this scale is yet to happen at a college in Indiana, Indiana colleges are not immune. Last month at Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne, a young woman was fatally stabbed during a dispute with her roommate’s mother.

At Ball State University a young man living in an apartment a block off-campus was shot to death by university police.

In 2004, a Butler University police officer was killed in the line of duty by a late night intruder to one of the campus buildings.

Within the last five years Indiana University has reported an increase in the number of sexual attacks occurring on campus. According to Indiana University police, an arrest was made in one in 43 reports of attack.

These types of numbers within all Indiana college settings have gotten students talking.

“This increase in violence at Indiana campuses, it scares me. The security is not good at night, I now carry a taser gun,” said Jennifer Brashers, a junior at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis.

Brashers is not alone in concern with campus security. Indiana University sophomore Brian Tove wrote a letter to the editor of “USA Today” voicing his outrage at the idea that students on universities should be allowed to carry firearms.

Although Indiana law deems any firearms carried at public universities illegal, Brandon Hanshew, a senior at Ball State disagrees with the law.

“I think everyone should be able to carry a gun. They should have the right to protect themselves if they want to,” said Hanshew.

But, for some students carrying guns is not the issue. The issue stems from campus police being able to carry weapons.

According to Steve Leonard, head of campus security at Franklin College, all universities and colleges that have their own police force with ‘sworn in’ officers are allowed to carry weapons. All schools that operate just campus security without a police force are not allowed to carry weapons.

And what exactly do university police officials carry? According to Steve Evans, Chief of Police at Purdue University, all campus law enforcement carries SigSauerP229 semi-auto handguns.

“To be used in deadly force situations to prevent serious injury or the loss of life to the officer or other persons,” said Evans.

What does a SigSauer do? According to www.remtek.com, a SigSauer handgun is the most popular with all police officials because of the silencer and the precision, ‘having less chance of hitting an innocent bystander.’

Although for some the college violence has gotten out of hand, Hanshew supports the idea of campus police carrying guns for their own safety.

“I felt like the officer had every right to shoot at the student. Because the student did not do what the officer had asked him to do,” said Hanshew.

Derek Speer, junior at University of Indianapolis agrees with Hanshew.

“They (security) isn’t bad, they can get a little over zealous with parking tickets and speeding, but overall they are not so bad,” said Speer.

Increases in violence over all state and national college campuses have led to reconfiguring security on campuses.

According to Leonard, Franklin College security officers held meetings that updated safety procedures to adhere to in the case of a mass shooting at the school.

After the stabbing at Indiana University –Purdue University Fort Wayne, officials have toyed with the idea of hiring more resident assistants and adding more security at the college’s dormitory.

Although Speer and Hanshew admit that some security has gotten out of hand at schools, they are happy with the security their schools provide them.

“I feel as though Ball State is improving in security. They are doing all that they can at this present time,” said Hanshew.