SAIT Security Keeps Watch

reflections of local calgary students on dawson college
montreal shooting was brutal but needs to be read.

just doing my practice journalism articles for school.... but i think this one ain't so bad. btw sait is southern alberta institute of technology. this was hard to write. there's a lot more stuff in my notes, but this was supposed to be a short article.

thankyou for any feedback

As Dawson College students take back the school in Montreal, SAIT'ers lookto the Paladin Security force on campus to keep possibilities of a violent event from happening.

            At 12:41PM last Wednesday, gunman Kimveer Gill burst into the DawsonCollege main atrium in Montreal, shotgun and submachine gun spraying bullets while students were having lunch.

            Here, it’s more peaceful. Veronica Garcia, 25 year old 2nd year EDDT student, knows thatsecurity is a good presence. "I don't feel scared at all, shite happens," says Garcia. "But this [the shooting] won't make me lock my door."

            After police had neutralized Gill, 18 year old Anastasia DeBousa lay dead and 20others were wounded. Two are still in critical condition, but security is good here in Calgary.

            Campus security should be taking this seriously though. "They [security] need totake some initiative," comments Pram Singh, 28 year old second yearPetroleum Engineering Technology student. "We pay [part of] tuition forthem to keep us safe; we shouldn't have to strap on guns and do it ourselves."

            The general consensus from talking to students that society within the walls of campus hasa friendly atmosphere. The violence in Montrealand other shootings on school property seem to be a reflection of society. “Ithink children don’t learn to handle situations properly in this aggressivesociety and as they become older, they must be accountable for their actions,” Garcia concludes.

When people who are frustrated with lack of communication and proper ways to deal with their anger no longer takeresponsibility for their actions, they become unreasonable. “Do something badhere, and get kicked off campus,” points out Singh. “Education is important andthey put the fear into people [of losing education]” People who no longer care are much less controllable and cease to fear consequences.

“On a related matter, a 15-year-old Montreal boywas arrested for making copycat threats to his schoolmates on the same websiteused by Gill. The teen was charged with uttering threats and was to re-appearin court,” reported the Calgary Sun on Tuesday.

In Calgary, the feelings are more muted as it hasn’t hit home yet. SAIT has about 15,000 students and Dawson Collegehas about 10,000 students. “I just hope security doesn’t change too much and Istart my day by getting frisked before class,” Garcia grimaces.