This is not the first time this year that this campus was gripped by fear.
Two people died on our campus, and after initial shock and uncertainty, USC emerged on the other side, and we stood firm in the face of a tragedy.
The administration kept people in the know and distributed necessary safety information quickly and usefully. These open channels of communication were a strong source of comfort for the students, parents and staff in a very trying time. They gave us something tangible to hang onto when all we had was hearsay. The actions taken by CPD, USCPD and SWAT personnel were as swift and effective as could be asked.
The fact that we knew immediately we were safe from the threat kept us feeling safe, despite the rumors that can spread like wildfire on days like these. If nothing else, Thursday reassured us that the people entrusted to protect student safety understand the gravity of their position.
Professors who were teaching Thursday afternoon locked doors, barred entrances with tables and chairs and, in some cases, continued to teach. They balanced the desire to maintain normalcy with the necessity of ensuring the safety of their students.
In a moment where panic could have easily gripped the students and thrown the campus into a dangerous frenzy, our leaders set an example of composure that allowed the situation to remain contained.
After the all clear, a sigh of relief passed over the campus, and students moved forward in their own ways. In the absence of a threat, the university chose to allow a normal school day to finish without punishing those who felt solitude was the best way of coping. In the wake of tragedy, some need to grieve and some need to press on, and the university gave us the chance to do both.
For the most part, the university continued the rest of the day fulfilling its public function: education. We feel that facilitated a needed sense of normalcy among the student body.
It was something none of us were prepared for: a murder-suicide in a public building in broad daylight. From faculty to staff to students, we rose to an occasion that shocked us all. The coming days won't be easy, but Thursday showed us that we can bear the burden.
After the panic, after the rumors, after the texts and calls from anxious friends and relatives, we are standing strong because we are standing together.