BOWIE, Md. — On Monday, students at Bowie State University returned to class after the school shuttered for a week following a shooting on campus. They university reopened with heightened security and a larger debate about keeping campuses safe amidst a growing societal problem.
One week after the shooting that caused chaos during homecoming at Bowie State University and halted classes for a week, psychology student Josefina Marshall says she is ready to be back on campus. However, she has a new awareness.
"Because of how open the campus is, like I'm just here on a Sunday and was asked if I'm a student - I could be anybody," she said.
Starting this weekend, armed security guards are present on campus 24/7 and scanning every license plate. More lighting has been installed on campus. The new measures will be in place as students return to class.
"I think seeing friendly faces, security guards, I don’t think there's anything wrong with that, I think anyone with ill intentions could be intimidated by police presence on the campus," said Marshall.
As part of the campus-wide effort to support students, 50 alumni ambassadors will serve at multiple sites Monday to greet students.
The shooting happened late Saturday night, Oct. 8. Two 19-year-olds, who were not students, were injured and the shooter remains at large.
The incident happened within a few days of a shooting at Morgan State University in Baltimore. The university is grappling with how to keep students safe on campus, looking at other security possibilities such as weapons detection and more fencing.
"We've all come together, that’s the bottom line," said Bowie State spokesman David Thompson. "And we’ve had to come together because we’re a campus community, so we’re feeling we want to get back to normal where students are learning in classes and get back to what we’re doing as a university."