GCSU reacts to college tragedy

    When a tragedy strikes like the shootings at Virginia Tech, many GCSU students are unsure how to cope with it.  A disquieting realization sets in that it could have happened here.  It is also difficult to come to terms with the fact that 32 people – who did nothing more than come to class on Monday – are dead.
    Dr. Mary Jane Phillips, director of GCSU’s Counseling Center offered advice to students struggling with this tragedy.  She quickly stated that anxiety and anger are normal feelings for anyone going through a difficult event like this.  Students are in a high-stress time already with exams quickly approaching, and a catastrophe like the shootings can intensify the negative feelings.
    Phillips advised first to keep busy.  By distracting the mind from painful thoughts, students are able to manage the things they need to do.
    “You need to find a way to get away from too much focus on the tragedy,” Phillips said.
    Phillips said many people become obsessed with an event like the Virginia Tech shootings, and this is very unhealthy.
    “Get an update on the event once a day, then leave it alone,” Phillips said.
    An important part of coping with shock and grief is having a strong connection with a social network.  Although everyone is different, it is healthy for everyone struggling with grief to express his or her feelings with someone else, rather than keeping it in and trying to manage alone.
    “Reach out to other people,” Phillips said.  “Connecting is critical.”
    Katherine Mann, a junior psychology major, said she was grieved by the tragedy at Virginia Tech.  She said her initial reaction was not shock, however.  Because of the shootings at Columbine eight years ago, she has seen what people are capable of, and she was not completely surprised to hear about the recent massacre.   
    Mann said it scares her to think about a killer coming into the resident halls because she has lived there for three years. 
    Mann said it encourages her to see the connection GCSU students feel with students at Virginia Tech.  She feels the same connection and has a desire to help the friends and families of victims.
    “As a believer, I believe in the power of prayer—that’s how I would like to help,” Mann said.
    One good thing came out of the tragedy in Virginia, according to Mann.  Universities everywhere have been forced to prepare for an event like this, to have a system to reacting to threats and attacks.
    “It’s not worth 32 people’s losing their lives, but at least this could prevent other people from losing their lives,” Mann said.
    Erin Sewell, a music therapy major, said it shocks her that someone could be so angry that they kill other people.  She feels relatively safe at GCSU, but knows that it could happen here as well.  She said it is hard to judge how she would have reacted if something similar happened at GCSU. 
    “You say you’re going to do something, but when you hear about a gunman, you freak out,” said Sewell.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 20 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry