Mass Murder Goes to College

Abstract

Notwithstanding the historical significance of the Columbine shooting, recent attention has shifted to college campuses following high-profile massacres at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. In this article, the authors compile and discuss the recommendations most often put forth by task force reports published in the wake of these episodes. Although some proposals can increase the security and well-being of the campus community, others may be inappropriate and even carry unacceptable negative consequences. The problem rests partly in the implicit assumption that effective strategies for secondary schools will seamlessly translate to a college environment. However, campus shootings are not just Columbine graduated to higher education, as differences in assailant motivation and setting warrant divergent strategies for prevention and response.