From the breezeway to the classroom, more than 20,000 people are on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus any given school day.
News of an attack at Ohio State University interrupted the carefree vibe.
“It’s very shocking, very scary,” said junior student Yasmeen Terrell, who doesn't want her school to be next.
In a statement, the university said it does “not wait for an incident like the one today to educate students, faculty and staff.” Going on to say preventing a similar incident requires a vigilant campus community.
About two hours after the incident in Ohio, the official FAU police department twitter account sent out this tweet: “Do you know how to respond to an active shooter? We encourage you to visit our website to learn more.” The website included frequently asked questions and videos on different scenarios.
Interim police Chief Sean Brammer tweeted simply ”stay vigilant."
At the beginning of the semester, Brammer told NewsChannel 5 crime prevention is his top priority. He added a campus full of people who are aware of their surroundings and educated on how to avoid becoming a target keeps everyone safe.
“I think that we're pretty safe,” said Brad Lawrence, a junior student. “They send a text notification or alert if anything bad is going on.”
Senior Ashley Johnson knows how quickly things can go bad. She was studying in Paris last November when terrorists attacked a concert hall killing more than 100 people.
“Based on that past experience, I feel like it can happen anywhere,” she said. “If you're in the wrong place in the wrong time, you just have to pray.”
Now Johnson is praying for the victims at Ohio State University.
Other students share her same reservations.
“If they can shoot up an elementary school and a movie theater, then how can we be safe on a college campus?” asked fellow senior Zachary Lee.
The university’s statement continued, “Our police department proactively messages about safety and security and works on awareness education throughout the year to help ensure a vigilant campus community.”
FAU launched the Guardian App this semester. It is a free mobile app for students and staff that allows your friends or the police department to keep a virtual eye on you on campus.