School shootings - but not in our house

By Ashley Sartin

It started at Columbine High School in 1999 and continues on with the most recent slaughter at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Both of these events have something in common: they both have taken place in educational settings. From high school to high quality universities, these types of massacres make one wonder what the security plans are in place at our own school.

Wednesday, February 13th, around 3:00 p.m. was when the shots rang out. Seven people were killed, and about seventeen others injured. Reports acknowledged that the gunman, Stephen Kazmierczak, had recently stopped taking his medication and became erratic in his actions. This may have been what led him to harm and to take the lives of other students and finally his own.

By carrying the two guns in a guitar case that for most was considered a regular day. Kazmierczak came to his final destination - where he would as many others would be seen for the last time - to Cole Hall. He came from behind the stage and started firing shots in the geology class. Soon as his rampage was over, just like other gunman in the past, Kazmierczak shot himself too, falling unto the stage.

But this is in Illinois. What about here at Messmer?

Patrick Fennesy, Campus Safety Director for Messmer Catholic Schools, has confirmed that Messmer does have a safety policy in place if something were to ever happen like the Columbine High School shooting. Fennesy has been involved in law enforcement for fifteen years. From being with the Milwaukee Police, Sate Police, a security guard for Governor Thompson, to being a U.S. Marshall, Mr. Fennesy has a lot of experience maintaining security. “We review and up-date the safety pan every year,” noted Fennesy.

For many students they feel like the security cameras are just for being nosey and invading in their privacy but in all actuality they are there to know what’s going on, and who is coming in and out of our school. “We know and see everything that happens, from outside of school to right on the front steps,” confirmed Fennesy.

As you can see, walking through the front doors of the school, we don’t have metal detectors. But we have security that are on top of their game. So, we don’t have to worry about things like the NIU and the Columbine shootings happening here.