The Mississippi State University administration is looking to approve new security measures following the shootings that took place Monday at Virginia Polytechnic and State University in which a total of 33 people died. Student Association President Jeremy Johnson said students who are feeling affected by the tragedy should find encouragement in the Mississippi State community.
“It’s OK to be scared, but don’t let this one incident take over your life,” Johnson said. “This campus is well-prepared to handle most emergencies.”
Johnson said the MSU administration is ready to become closer to the students and allow for more personal contact.
“They are looking at ways to make this campus more efficient in the case that something of that magnitude happens here,” he said. “There are a lot of ideas being thrown around. The [MSU] Web site and e-mail work, but not everyone checks those at the time needed. We are looking for new ways to get word around and are putting our best effort into the security of our students.”
Gov. Haley Barbour said he will work with educators and state residents to prevent something of this magnitude from occurring in Mississippi.
Johnson said he hopes students will learn from the tragedy at Virginia Tech and that if they begin to experience depression, help should be sought.
“Just learn from this,” he said. “Know the warning signs, and don’t hesitate to report any suspicions you may have.”
Sophomore psychology major John MacArthur said that students should be aware of symptoms in order to prevent damaging events from occurring in the future.
Social isolation and separation from friends and family are two important signs to watch for, he said.
“One of the biggest symptoms to watch for is difficulty sleeping or a change in appetite,” he said.
Depression may sometimes develop into irritation, anger or even violence, so it is important to get help in the beginning, MacArthur said.
“Most people think they can cure this symptom with a pill, but it is important to know that you can’t cure the disease by knocking out a symptom,” he said. “People who are experiencing these symptoms should get help from a professional.”
MacArthur said that if students can catch depression symptoms early on, they can prevent these symptoms from developing into anger and violence. He said that the best prevention is awareness.
SA chief of staff Megan Fly said she hopes that students who may be experiencing fear, sadness or depression due to the recent shooting know that the Mississippi State community is supportive and has many support groups willing to reach out to anyone in need.