A recent shooting at Tuskegee University’s homecoming that left multiple people injured has sparked urgent calls for stronger security measures at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
As violent incidents at HBCU homecomings continue to occur, students, faculty and alumni are questioning why these cherished events have become vulnerable to violence and what can be done to keep attendees safe.
Florange Marc, a pre med biology student, voices that she believes that these recent attacks are racially and politically motivated.
“It’s crazy how this past year, we have heard about HBCUs getting shot up, getting burnt down and having bomb threats,” said Marc. “And it’s because it’s an election year.”
During Tuskegee’s homecoming festivities, gunfire erupted near campus, leading to chaos as people scrambled for cover. This incident has left many parents, students, and administrators calling for a heightened focus on security for similar events across the nation.
Jakayla Fields, a nursing student at Tuskegee University, can agree that students are feeling unsafe and unheard from the administration and staff at the university.
“A lot of students felt unheard like at first we weren’t hearing anything from the university regarding the whole situation,” said Fields. “Students had to push for mental health days cause they weren’t going to give us any.”
Homecoming festivities were still happening after the incident occurred which made students and parents feel that the university didn’t care about the physical, emotional and mental strain that this traumatic experience has caused.
Events such as convocation were still mandatory for students to attend. Tuskegee University’s President Mark Brown confirms with The Guardian that he had no plans to end the school’s annual homecoming, which is a celebration that has been associated with the HBCU system.
On a Facebook post, Student Destinies James, wrote a lengthy statement making claims that Tuskegee does not have the student’s best interest and is not protecting them after this incident.
“Some students already went home or plan on leaving ASAP because they were physically and mentally harmed,” James wrote. “My own professor emailed me not even 24 hours after asking when I would be available to take a quiz.”
James then went further to claim that Tuskegee is not being truthful to the true number of injuries/deaths that has been reported.
“There were way more than 16 injuries,” James wrote. “Parents who were able to get on campus saw multiple bodies laid in the parking lot, students who returned the next day to where they’re supposed to be safe sleeping saw multiple white sheets still in the parking lot the day after.”
James continues claiming that Tuskegee has been threatening to silence students if they spoke against the university’s lack of communication and accountability for the incident.
“Tuskegee has blackmailed students to stop them from speaking out, threatening their financial aid if they told the truth about their university experience,” James wrote.
In response, Tuskegee University has canceled classes and shut down the campus for the rest of the week. They have hired a new chief of security, ensuring that there will be a full and thorough interview process done.
However, President Mark Brown has made a statement expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased victim La’Tavion Johnson.
“The Tuskegee University community is heartbroken by what happened on our own campus early Sunday morning,” Brown said. “We offer condolences to the family of the young man who lost life. We are providing as much support as we can to the students who were injured and their families and are allowing students who lived in the vicinity of the incident to relocate if they desire.”