WKU Students Coping After Alleged Shootings
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Updated: 9:36 AM Oct 23, 2008
WKU Students Coping After Alleged Shootings
Western Kentucky University is still reeling tonight after two reports of shootings, one at the south campus and one on school's main campus. While police and university officials are saying no guns were actually involved and no one was hurt... how are students coping in the aftermath of Wednesday's events?
Posted: 7:51 AM Oct 23, 2008
Reporter: Ryan Dearbone
Email Address: ryan.dearbone@wbko.com
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Western Kentucky University is still reeling tonight after two reports of shootings, one at the south campus and one on school's main campus.

While police and university officials are saying no guns were actually involved and no one was hurt... how are students coping in the aftermath of Wednesday's events?

Its looks like any other night on WKU's campus, students walking and talking as they go.

Its hard to imagine that several hours earlier the campus was on "lockdown" as police searched for armed gunmen.

"It was just a shock. I didn't think it would ever happen here or it could happen wherever we were," says Bridgette Wilson a WKU freshman from Louisville.

Taylor and her friend Megan Martini say they were both scared when they received text messages warning of trouble on campus.

For the most part, everything seems quiet on campus, but the rumor of Wednesday's fights being the result of gang violence persists.

So we asked students if they knew of any gang activity on campus, and got a mixed response.

"I have no experience or met anyone from a gang from here or heard of any gangs around here," says Wilson.

"You do hear a lot of gang-related things and I think that's what tonight was "gang violence"," says WKU freshman Aaron Poynter.

Still, these students don't feel Wednesday's ordeal will negatively impact life on campus long-term.

"I think for the most part everyone was glad that it was over and I think it might be weird for a little while, but I think everything will get back to normal," freshman Jacob Hicks states.

"I don't feel more unsafe than I did today. I feel like our campus handled it very well and it hasn't;t changed my affect on this campus at all and how I live my day-to-day life," notes Wilson.

Students I talked to say this issue does concern them still because of the reports of a gun being fired near Pearce Ford Tower a couple of months ago.

However, they say they believe the university did a good job in handling Wednesday's situation.


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