It’s speculated that early in the morning on November 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death by an unknown assailant inside their off campus rental home, shared by the three female victims and two female survivors.  Hours later on University of Virginia’s campus, former walk-on UVA player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., opened fire on a UVA charter bus that returned on a class trip to Washington D.C. to see a play about Emmit Till, killing three UVA football players and injuring two other students, one of which was also on the team. Both universities and the communities surrounding them have been shaken by these acts of violence and have already taken measures to reduce any future acts of violence.

According to Jodi Walker, the Senior Director of Communications at University of Idaho, the campus has implemented a higher police presence both on-and-off campus, on top of a safe ride program, which acts similarly to their safe walk program. The program allows students to call cars or police officers who would safely bring the students to their destination. The campus, in addition to their counseling stationed on campus, added drop-in counseling, “immediately after the tragedy as we have put a lot of extra support into the students,” said Walker.

After the recent college student murders that happened on the campuses, some students are cautious and particular in schools they plan on going to. Madelena Difabio, 11, said that safety was always a major concern for them when choosing colleges. “I’ve always known that colleges aren’t always safe, but with the rise in incidents and being a junior, it’s even more so on my mind now.” Difabio said.They have always considered safety when looking at schools, and Difabio talked about how they have  always done research on each school and keeps tabs on certain colleges. “I try to look for places in towns or just outside of cities and research the student body and their experiences.” said  Difabio. “Especially as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I do extra work to know how inclusive and safe schools are for people in the community.”

Ultimately, college is one of the many life-changing steps and experiences young adults face on their path towards adulthood. According to research done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 61.8% of 2021 high school graduates enrolled in colleges or universities (54.9% for men and 69.5% for women.) However with the unrestful violence plaguing the US, students can only hope that it stops attempting to interfere with their education.