A Brown University graduate student is grappling with a chilling sense of déjà vu, having now experienced the terror of campus gun violence twice. The second-year biotech student, who wishes to remain anonymous, was at home when the recent shooting unfolded, instantly transporting her back to a harrowing ordeal at the University of North Carolina.
The UNC shooting, a year prior, forced her into an eight-hour lockdown within a laboratory. She remembers a suffocating atmosphere of uncertainty, fueled by rampant misinformation as students desperately tried to understand the unfolding crisis. The silence and fear were overwhelming, a stark contrast to the chaotic reality of a professor’s life being tragically cut short nearby.
While acknowledging the differences in scale – the Brown incident involved multiple victims, a “mass casualty” as she described it – the emotional impact was equally devastating. Both events plunged the campus into a shared experience of raw fear and confusion, a disorienting fog where truth was elusive.
A brief moment of relief washed over the Brown community when police announced a suspect was in custody. That hope quickly dissolved into renewed panic when the individual was released less than a day later. The reversal left students feeling vulnerable and exposed, shattering a fragile sense of security.
Friends began to leave campus immediately, and her parents started a frantic drive from Georgia, determined to bring her home. The student expressed a deep frustration, questioning how public funds could be allocated without ensuring basic safety and swift justice.
She praised Brown University itself, noting its extensive security camera network, but her anger focused on the investigative process that allowed a potential suspect to walk free. The quick release felt like a betrayal, particularly for those who remained on campus, still living in fear.
The aftermath mirrored the UNC experience in a surprising way: a surge of community support. Students rallied together, offering comfort and solidarity in the face of trauma. Yet, for many, the fear proved too powerful to overcome.
Despite the outpouring of support, a wave of students have already left, packing their belongings and seeking safety elsewhere. The feeling of vulnerability is pervasive, and a sense of security remains elusive in the wake of the unanswered questions and the lingering threat.
The student recalls the shared sentiment at both universities: “No one knew what was real.” That unsettling uncertainty, she says, is the common thread connecting these terrifying experiences, a haunting reminder of the fragility of safety on campus.
