At the University of North Carolina, two shootings 30 years apart show how much has changed

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The University of North Carolina has witnessed two shootings, separated by 30 years, which highlight the profound changes in information dissemination and the emotional impact of such incidents.

In some respects, the era of campus shootings has come full circle. Alumni who remember the tragic events of 1995 now have children attending the same institution, where an associate professor recently lost their life to gun violence. However, the way information spreads has evolved significantly, making these recent experiences different yet hauntingly familiar.

Nearly three decades ago, there were limited means for university officials to swiftly inform the entire community about a shooting on campus. Email was in its infancy, and long-distance phone calls with answering-machine messages were the norm. The immediacy of communication we take for granted today simply didn’t exist.

During the 1995 shooting, Thornburg, a former student journalist, only thought to contact his parents in California after spotting a television news van near the scene. This underscores the challenges of communicating critical information in that era.

Fast forward to the present, and technology has transformed the way information is disseminated. During a recent campus shooting, Thornburg, now a professor, received a campus-wide alert on his computer. He, along with his students, relied on text messages and real-time news updates to stay informed. It was a teachable moment, highlighting the rapid evolution of communication methods.

However, this increased speed of information dissemination also brings with it challenges. Misinformation can spread as quickly as accurate updates, making it crucial to discern reliable sources during crisis situations. Students today, raised in an age of school shootings, often arrive on campus with heightened anxiety.

In 1995, there were no instant alerts to protect students from potential harm. But many remained unaware of the situation until hours later, avoiding the immediate fear and panic of lockdown. In contrast, modern students experience a flood of information and messages from concerned friends and family, heightening their sense of urgency and anxiety.

The experiences of Zoe Bright, a current UNC sophomore, and her father, Mark Bright, who attended UNC in 1995, highlight this stark contrast. While both experienced shootings on campus, their responses and the information available to them differed significantly.

The role of journalism in documenting these events has also evolved. The 1995 student newspaper featured traditional reporting with a map of the crime scene and a photo of a victim’s body. In contrast, the recent edition focused on an oral history of the lockdown experience, capturing the emotional texts exchanged by students.

Regrettably, campus shootings have become a grim reality in America. The frequency of such incidents has increased over the last decade, leading to a desensitization to the violence. Some UNC alumni express a sense of inevitability about such events, a tragic reflection of contemporary American society.

In conclusion, the University of North Carolina’s experiences with campus shootings, separated by 30 years, underscore the profound changes in information dissemination, emotional responses, and the role of journalism. While technology has improved the speed of communication, it has also brought new challenges, making it crucial to strike a balance between security and anxiety in today’s world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Campus Shootings

More about Campus Shootings

• University of North Carolina Campus Shootings – Official website of the University of North Carolina, providing information on campus incidents.
• Everytown for Gun Safety – A gun-control research and advocacy group tracking school and campus shootings.
• Begun Center for Violence Prevention and Research – Information on violence prevention and research at Case Western University.
• The Daily Tar Heel – The student newspaper of the University of North Carolina, featuring articles and coverage of recent events.