“Relax. You are safe. Really. Although the Virginia Tech massacre has captivated the nation since Monday, your life has not changed as a result. The University of Akron does not need metal detectors nor do we need to carry weapons for protection. When university officials issued a special edition ZipMail on Tuesday, president Luis Proenza saved the most important message for last.”
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Relax.

You are safe. Really.

Although the Virginia Tech massacre has captivated the nation since Monday, your life has not changed as a result.

The University of Akron does not need metal detectors nor do we need to carry weapons for protection.

When university officials issued a special edition ZipMail on Tuesday, president Luis Proenza saved the most important message for last.

As much as we grieve for those affected by this unforeseeable, random act of terror by a troubled individual, we must acknowledge that this is a rare event. In all likelihood, none of us will encounter such an incident in our lifetimes; however, we will do our best to prepare for such possibilities.

That cannot be stressed enough.

Again, acts of violence on college campuses are rare. What are the odds that any of us will witness such a situation? Probably none.

Paul Callahan, the university police chief, said that worried parents called the department on Monday.

That’s pretty ridiculous.

We wonder exactly what they were worried about, because, when all is said and done, a young man murdering people at a college more than 300 miles away does not impact the UA campus.

Unless you let it.

The Virginia Tech incident is an isolated one that probably could not have been prevented. If someone were so inclined to act in that manner on our campus, we probably wouldn’t be able to prevent it either.

Hopefully the police would be able to respond quickly and effectively. They are trained and prepared to do so.

But that day will most likely never come, so, in the meantime, let’s not turn this tragedy into something it isn’t.

It should not scare you. It’s not a wake-up call either.

Virginia Tech is sad, shocking and unfortunate. But it’s doesn’t mark a new era of danger at UA.

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