Trouble on College Campuses Is Happening Way too Often These Days

James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed.D., Columnist

Going to college has always been the goal for many students. They take courses and pass tests in high school. Doing homework and writing essays were building blocks for attending college. My friends and I had already been on several college campuses. College students looked more serious, and they were certainly carrying more books. I saw older students leaving for college. It served as motivation for younger students to follow in their footsteps. We wanted to be like them.

At a young age, my parents told me I was going to college, so the only question was what college I would attend. In my community, education was valued and thought to be a key to a successful life. So, as my high school graduation approached, I became more anxious and excited.

Colleges during my day were lively places to be. I never associated danger and misfortune with them. We went there to learn and earn a degree. Of course, we gained new friends and participated in all student activities.

I was blessed to have been a studentathlete which meant traveling to other cities and college campuses. I had the opportunity to see schools like Rider College in New Jersey and Tuskegee University in Alabama.

During my time in college, I never experienced gun violence. Guns and other weapons were never a part of my conversations with other students. And as a college administrator and teacher, I never had any experiences with students who had firearms.

It is both unbelievable and sad to see. How can we use guns, killings, and colleges in the same sentence? However, this conversation is growing to be more and more relevant. On Sunday, November 13, 2022, a lone gunman killed three students and wounded two others at the University of Virginia. According to public reports, the studentathletes killed are Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis, Jr., and D’Sean Perry. University of Virginia President James Ryan said, “This is a sad, shocking, and tragic day for our UVA community. Let me say how deeply sorry I am for the victims and for their family and friends.”

The alleged assailant, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., faces murder charges and charges of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, according to UVA Police Chief Timothy Longo, Sr. Jones was arrested approximately 80 miles east of Charlottesville without incident. As of now, there has not been a motive established; however, Christopher Jones was a former UVA football player.

Carla Williams, director of athletics