TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University's president announced via social media that classes and business operations at the school will resume on Monday, April 21, four days after a shooter opened fire on campus. Two people died and six others were injured.
In his post, FSU President Dr. Richard McCullough said in part, "I know it won't feel like a normal week. It's the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened. Please take care of yourself."
"Obviously, it's not going to feel normal for anybody having to walk through and around those buildings that are still considered a crime scene area," said Daniella Ferrara, a sophomore at FSU.
Ferrara said she left Tallahassee on Friday to spend time with her family in Tampa. She told Spectrum News she wasn't on campus during the shooting but knows people who were, and she thinks it's too soon to have to relive what happened.
"Knowing that people had to run for their lives on school campus, I just don't understand how anyone that had to go through that is expected to return back to that area and feel all those emotions come again," said Ferrara.
FSU junior Julie Pinto said she was getting ready for a Thursday afternoon class when a roommate told her about the shooting.
"I haven't been able to come back on campus. I don't feel safe," said Pinto. "I know this is supposed to be the safest time. There's so many cops on campus and security everywhere, but I don't feel safe coming back quite yet."
Saturday afternoon, she was among the people who visited the Unconquered statute near Langford Green. It's become a makeshift memorial, its base covered with flowers, balloons, candles, and messages to the victims. Pinto said she'll return to class on Monday, although she doesn't feel ready for that.
"I think it's hard to ask them to completely cancel classes, especially with finals so soon, but at least offering an option to be online, I mean - something like that. I mean, after we saw - I know it's a completely different tragedy, but the COVID-19 response, like being able to take classes online. I would have wished we would have gotten maybe an asynchronous option or - I'm not sure the exact response, but I don't think this is the right one," she said.
The FSU College Democrats released a statement against a Monday return date, saying in part, "We were given a week off when the university got a few inches of snow - now we're expected to go back to class days after a mass shooting."
Ferrara said she'd like to see professors be lenient with students when it comes to deadlines. President McCullough did touch on that in his statement, encouraging students to talk with instructors if they need help or accommodation. He also urged anyone in need of support to reach out.
Available resources include mental health support from counseling and psychological services. That team can be reached at (850) 644-TALK (8255). The victim advocate program also provides free assistance. They can be reached by phone 24/7 at (850) 644-7161, by text at (850) 756-4320, or by e-mail at Victims-Advocate@fsu.edu.