Florida State University introduces plan for resuming academic activities after fatal on-campus shooting; opinions vary on timing of campus reopening.
Amid the chaotic aftermath of the shooting at Florida State University, where the soothing hum of academics was replaced by the deafening roar of gunfire and screams, Reid Seybold found himself huddled in a classroom, sending heart-wrenching texts to loved ones as his world spun into chaos.
"I love you," he penned to his boyfriend and family. "I may never see you again."
The remnants of the tragedy, marked by shell casings and evidence markers, now lay hidden beneath the lush lawns and walkways of the campus. This was the shocked campus left in the wake of a former student, son of a local sheriff's deputy, who allegedly wreaked havoc on Thursday, leaving two dead and six injured.
As the days pass, students tentatively return to a campus where the echoes of horrors still reverberate, many questioning if it's too soon. Classes resumed on Monday, though not without controversy.
FSU President Richard McCullough had initially announced that classes would resume, giving students the option to reach out to staff members if they weren't ready. However, the announcement met with a wave of outrage, prompting over 1,300 signatories on a Change.org petition, and a barrage of backlash on social media.
Students, staff, and parents expressed their disapproval, with Celina Westerberg, the petition organizer, stating on Facebook, "Three days is not nearly enough time for anyone to process through what took place." The university soon relented, announcing remote learning options and waiving mandatory attendance to give students more time to heal.
Seybold, a senior political science major, acknowledged the angst felt by many students, including himself. The vivid memories of the shooting, seared into his mind, make sleep an elusive treasure as he wrestles with the fear of a potential copycat and the doubt of returning to the same building that once provided a sanctuary of learning, now a place of terror.
"The details are burned into my brain, and I don't even have to be in the room," Seybold said. "The night after, I slept for 30 minutes because it kept playing over and over in my head."
Campus life, though subdued, resumed on Monday. Melina Myers, a computer science senior lecturer, noted the increased police presence and expressed her gratitude on social media. The normally bustling campus was eerily quiet, with students walking in a somber, muted trance towards their classes. Myers described it as a "very somber, but back to business" atmosphere.
The university continues to prioritize the mental health and well-being of its students, recognizing that everyone copes differently. Students are encouraged to seek support and help whenever needed, whether that means staying away from the classrooms or finding solace in the community.
Seybold, amid his struggle to come to terms with the tragedy, remains resolute. "He doesn't win, he doesn't get that," he asserted, indicating his determination to move forward with his life.
Meanwhile, some students dealt with more than just emotional wounds as a result of the shooting. Madison Askins, a graduate student, was shot in the buttock during the incident and is still in the hospital. The bullet remains lodged in her vertebrae, and surgery is planned for December. Despite her ordeal, Askins maintains her resolve to graduate next spring and focus on her future.
The shooting marked Florida's sixth mass shooting of the year, a stark reminder that the threat of gun violence continues to loom. Mental health experts emphasize the importance of addressing mental health issues promptly in survivors and stress the role that community support will play in aiding recovery and managing trauma.
CNN's Holly Yan, Zoe Sottile, Ryan Young, and Devon Sayers contributed to this report.
- Reid Seybold, a senior political science major at FSU, shared heart-wrenching texts with his loved ones during the shooting, expressing fears that he may never see them again.
- The university, following backlash, announced remote learning options and waived mandatory attendance to give students more time to heal after the tragedy.
- Seybold struggles to sleep as the vivid memories of the shooting play in his mind, fearing a potential copycat and the doubt of returning to the same building.
- Campus life resumed on Monday, though the normally bustling atmosphere felt eerily quiet, with students walking in a somber, muted trance towards their classes.
- Mental health experts stress the importance of addressing mental health issues promptly in survivors of mass shootings and emphasize the role that community support will play in aiding recovery and managing trauma.
- Madison Askins, a graduate student at FSU, was shot during the incident and remains hospitalized with a bullet lodged in her vertebrae, but she remains determined to graduate next spring.
