The management of Florida State University changed the course on Saturday during a return from Monday to campus when the students insisted that he was too early after an armed man opened fire near the Student Union on Thursday.
A first announcement on Saturday morning by the president of the university, Richard McCullough, recognized the upheaval felt by the university community.
“Our hearts are heavy after the tragedy that took place on April 17. We are in mourning with families and friends who have lost someone they like,” said the email. “It has shaken us all, and I want you to know: we are there for you. Course and commercial operations will resume on Monday April 21. ”
As the expressions of students’ confusion and, in many cases, have grown throughout the day – including the creation of a petition requiring absences excused for students – the university’s position has evolved.
The first McCullough said in a video declaration on Saturday afternoon that even if the lessons should resume on Monday, the school would be “flexible” and accommodating for those who do not immediately return to the campus. He didn’t say how.
Then, on Saturday evening, the students received another email declaring that although the university “would resume lessons as scheduled on Monday April 21”, students and instructors would have new options to welcome those who are not comfortable with early return.
All absences next week will be excused without needing to justify, said email, and there would be distant options for certain classes, but probably not for those who have components in person such as laboratory examinations.
NBC News heard a number of students who said they didn’t feel safe to go back to campus. Some have described broken door frames and broken windows in several university buildings left by Swat officers responding to the shooting. Others have said that they would not be able to concentrate for fear that another shooting will occur just when they return.
“I have lessons that are where the shooting has occurred and I doubt that I will be able to concentrate,” said Madelynn Duggar, a junior who sheltered for three hours in a building a few doors from which the shooting took place. “It is very difficult to concentrate and take exams in the same places where days before barricaded the door and making your peace with God.”
Phoenix Ikner, 20, student and stepson of the FSU of an assistant to a sheriff, is currently hospitalized and in detention in connection with the shooting that killed two staff members and injured six.
The first year student Elizabeth Palmer said that every day she passed the Oglesby Student Union – where the shooter opened fire on students and staff – and cannot imagine having been forced to walk again.
“Even if most of us were not physically on the scene, we have all seen it,” said Palmer. “I cannot pass in front of the exact area where I saw a girl lying in a pool of blood. It’s traumatic. ”
“I think what causes students the most stress is the fact that everything is in the air at the moment and we don’t know what to do with ourselves,” said Palmer.
Senior Jack Campi, faced with the new initial he was to return to campus on Monday, was incredulous. Now, he expects his teachers on how they plan to manage the final exams with the latest advice from the President of the University.
“Eight people went (to FSU) and it was a normal day, just as Monday could be a normal day. And they did not go home. (For) two who was their last day, they took their last breath.”
“It’s mainly my house. It was my house, and someone got home and killed people. ”
