Gun violence strikes campuses across U.S.

A series of violent shootings has shaken campuses nationwide, resulting in heightened campus awareness and security measures across the country. Since the semester began, there have been four shootings at colleges and universities -- three of which resulted in deaths. One student was killed and another injured on Pennsylvania State University's main campus September 17 when 19-year-old Jillian Robbins opened fire in the middle of campus. Robbins -- who allegedly killed 21-year-old Melanie Spalla and injured 22-year-old Nicholas Mensah -- has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail until her trial begins December 9. The shooting shook Penn State students, who had always considered their campus very safe. As a result, university administrators have increased security, according to Penn State spokesperson Christy Rambeau. "We're looking at what happened and if there was anyway to prevent it," Rambeau said. "We have made more visible the bike and foot patrols and that's been in order to make people feel more secure." Current security measures at Penn State include an emergency phone system, a "buddies" escort service, a crimewatch program and alcohol- and drug-related seminars. In addition, the Penn State Police are working closely with police in the city of State College, Pa., according to Rambeau. She also noted that the shooting was an isolated incident and that most crimes on campus are alcohol-related. She said thefts and vandalism are the most frequent acts of crime, whereas armed robberies and muggings rarely occur at Penn State. Thomas Harmon, Penn State's director of Police Services, said security has been increased since the shooting, but will soon probably return to normal. "For a few nights, we did add some additional patrols in the residence halls to make people feel more comfortable," Harmon said. "There was a heightened anxiety following the incident." Because the shooting was isolated, Penn State officials did not increase security measures indefinitely. But Harmon said he would have evaluated the situation differently if crime was more common on the campus. "The incident that transpired here was certainly an anomaly at this campus as opposed to a school in a city environment like Penn," he said. "If this incident were of that nature, we would have been much more concerned -- increased patrols and more security." · A shooting at the University of Northern Colorado last Tuesday also led campus officials to increase security. Northern Colorado police shot and killed a gunman Tuesday afternoon after the man shot his ex-girlfriend -- a student at the school -- and held her and three other female students captive in their dorm for more than four hours. Because the man was able to walk into the residence hall without obstruction, university officials have re-evaluated their residential security, according to Police Chief Terry Urista. Prior to the incident, the university's residence halls stayed open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. After those hours, the buildings went into a lockdown, during which students must use their keys to get into the main door and must sign in any guests. "We have gone to a 24-hour lockdown," Urista said. Officials are going to meet again to decide what further steps must be taken. Urista also said that three weeks ago, the university made a bid to a security company to increase safety in the residence halls and campus buildings. Northern Colorado students currently do not have to swipe their identification cards to enter residence halls. Under the university's new security measures, technology will be installed to provide for this. The security project is scheduled to begin within two weeks and be completed in January. The university, with an enrollment of 10,500 students, is located in Greeley, Colo., an agricultural community of 60,000 people. Urista said crime in the area and on campus is rare. "It's kind of stolen our innocence," Urista said. The university has 12 officers on its police force, most of whom are on duty at night. In addition, the school also has student security officers who carry phones and provide escort services. Urista said while the shooting caught the university community off guard, students do not seem very receptive to more security. "We're used to having freedom and being able to come and go," he said. "But the students are being somewhat resistant to more restrictions." · The shock of a campus shooting has also struck the students and officials of Contra Costa College, a junior college in San Pablo, Calif. One student was killed last Wednesday when two armed men approached a group of students on the school's quad and opened fire before running to a getaway car. Chris Robinson, a 19-year-old student, died at the scene. The three men implicated in the crime have been arrested and are being held without bail. According to Officer Allen White of the Contra Costa Police Department, the school of 7,000 students is wedged between the cities of San Pablo and Richmond, both of which "are high crime areas." While serious crimes are rare at the school, other incidents like property thefts and vandalism are more typical, White said. Following the shooting, the school's police department has significantly stepped up its security measures. "Now we have four to six police officers patrolling instead of one," White said. "And that's going to stay that way through next week." In addition, the department has requested assistance from the San Pablo and Richmond police departments and the county sheriff's office. Prior to the shooting, one police officer patrolled campus on each of three daily shifts and was assisted by anywhere from one to eight security officers, White said, adding that the department has requested that two police officers be on duty during the day and swing shifts.

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