The recent shooting at Langston -- accident or not-is startling --  and many students are on edge. After hearing about the recent shooting I cannot find a reason why Langston students would "play" with a gun and shoot themselves. I am trying hard to understand the mentality of the students involved in this incident.

Personal photo

Danielle Skinner

I am disappointed -- along with many other Langston students -- about the situation because it casts a bad light on our college's reputation and makes us feel unsafe. Students can no longer walk around campus apartments without hearing some sort of calamity, including the occasional gunshot.

When people ask me what college I attend, I want to hold my head up high and proudly say, "I attend Langston University." But given the circumstances, it has now become embarrassing to do so.

I strongly believe that Langston students can change the world, but how can we change the world if we do not start by changing what goes on here?

I think a number of steps need to be taken in order to make this campus safer. I am aware that the president has installed a safety hotline, plans to have more room checks, and police officers will now be employed at night, but other measures need to be taken as well.

The past shooting incident proves that just about anyone can attend Langston. Therefore, I challenge the president to raise the admissions standards for students. I have met so many students that have no motivation, no discipline, and who do not desire to better themselves at this institution, yet they are here. These are probably students who don't see anything wrong with having a loaded gun in their room.

The president needs to start by raising the admissions requirements of students participating in the associate's degree program. There are basically no admissions requirements regarding the program, so just about anyone can be admitted into Langston. If the admission requirements are raised, the student body will contain more hard-working students who are serious about their education. The president should consider that a 3.0 says a lot about a student, as well as a lack of a criminal record.

Along with the admissions requirements being raised, I think the president should consider investing in a transportation system that can take students to the city on weekends. So many students have brought to my attention that campus life is no thrill. Langston University is in the middle of nowhere, and campus activity has grown dull year after year. If students are more occupied with their social life and are given more options to do more during their college experience, there will be no time for boredom, or accidental shootings.

I don't want to be at a college where shootings occur, and many other Langston students feel the same. The Langstonites that reside on this campus are here to achieve greatness, not gunshot wounds.

Danielle Skinner writes for The Gazette, Langston University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

Articles in the Voices section represent the views of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of Black College Wire.