In the wake of last week’s shooting at Florida State University, Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication held two town halls aimed at addressing student concerns, offering mental health resources, and improving crisis communication.
The town halls were hosted Tuesday, April 22, virtually, and Wednesday, April 23, in-person at the SJGC lecture hall. Dean Mira Lowe, faculty, staff, and students gathered to discuss how the university handled communications during the FSU incident and what could be improved going forward.
“We need to prioritize self-care,” Dean Lowe said during the Wednesday session. “As we run to the finish line…take mindful breaks, go for a walk, listen to music, stay connected. That will help you perform better.”
Students and faculty in attendance shared personal accounts of how they first heard about the shooting and the confusion that followed.
“I heard about it on social media before I got anything official from the school,” said one student. “That was weird. Then I finally got the notification from the university.”
Another student shared similar sentiments about university notification delays.
“The first time I got anything was through FAMU Alert, but by then, I had already seen it on the news and social media,” they said. “The timing matters. If something happens again, I hope we’re notified faster.”
Students weren’t the only ones caught off guard. Dr. Wilkerson, a tenured SJGC professor, recalled receiving the alert mid-class.
“We were getting ready for presentations…one student said they had a friend at FSU, and I told them to go. I canceled class. It was all happening so fast,” he said. “We didn’t know what was fact or just social media rumors.”
Graphic Design Director Gil highlighted a broader breakdown in institutional coordination. He stated that universities and local governments need to communicate better, noting they could have reacted more effectively for the students if they’d had just 20 minutes more notice.
Despite the initial miscommunication, many students felt heard during the town hall. Third-year journalism student Jorde Jones said he was reassured.
“Dean Lowe was very attentive to the student body,” Jones said. “Even though my concerns weren’t immediately resolved, I believe they will be.”
Jones also pointed out the importance of consistency going forward. He stated that communication should be consistent, and not so reactive to ensure credibility for more effective communication, especially during critical times.
Students, faculty and staff brainstorm some possible solutions to how effective communication could have made a difference. Dean Lowe acknowledged the difficulty of balancing urgency with accuracy. She stated that the situation is rapidly evolving and sharing incorrect information would be detrimental. She added that a simple “shelter in place until further notice” order could have been a beneficial strategy when information is not yet verified by the university.
As school shootings across the country continue to shake campuses, SJGC’s town hall marks one of the first organized responses from any FAMU department, setting a tone for transparency, preparedness, and student-centered communication.
“I think people realize now this could’ve been more tragic,” Lowe said. “That’s why we’re gathering feedback to create better strategies moving forward.”