USU responds to University of Idaho deaths
Editor’s note: This story was updated with more information at 9:11 p.m. on Nov. 22.
On the night of Nov. 13, four students were found dead near University of Idaho’s campus, having been murdered in “a crime of passion” with “an edged object,” according to Moscow police reports.
Idaho’s Moscow police said they have not yet caught the culprit. “We cannot say there is no threat to the community,” Moscow Police Chief James Fry said during a news conference on Nov. 16.
U of I’s students are now fleeing the campus because they aren’t feeling safe, the Idaho Statesman reported.
The same day, three University of Virginia football players were shot and killed, and two other students were wounded, according to an NBC news report. The suspect is currently in custody, according to an ESPN report.
Amanda DeRito, Utah State University associate vice president for strategic communications, said USU was “heartbroken for those affected by these tragedies” in an email to the Statesman.
“USU’s campuses reside in relatively safe communities, but everyone should always be vigilant about their safety and the safety of others,” DeRito said.
USU Police Chief Blair Barfuss said the Department of Public Safety worked with university communications to release a statement regarding the murders.
“There are many things that our community members can do to improve their safety and the safety of our Aggie family,” the statement said.
The statement encouraged students to download the Aggie Safe App and to be attentive to any alerts they receive.
“If you see or hear something that seems unsafe or have heard or seen an individual make threats of violence in our community, share it immediately with USU Public Safety,” the statement said.
USU promotes the Upstander training program, which encourages each student to raise awareness of any danger in their area, the statement said.
USU students Megan Miller and Isabel Brown stated their own anxieties regarding the recent murders.
“My biggest concern about an emergency situation is the lack of planning on USU’s part. I’ve never had a teacher who has had the capability of locking doors to their classrooms, and I haven’t ever heard any safety plans discussed by faculty or campus police,” Miller said.
When Brown was a freshman, she had her own experience with a violent situation on USU’s campus on Jan. 17, 2021.
After a stalker was reported and was “on the run from the cops,” he ran into the Richards Hall building — which, Brown said, did not have any locks for the main entrance.
“He went into our front lobby and unfortunately, ended his life. So obviously, that posed a risk to us because the only safety I had was the card insert on the door that led to all of our bedrooms,” Brown said.
The suicide was reported on by the Statesman in January 2021, along with a list of university mental health resources for students. “No foul play (was) suspected,” the report said.
On Mar. 9, 2021, USU Housing Facilities said that dorm buildings would now have exterior door locks in an email to the Richard Hall’s residents.
“In an effort to enhance the safety and security of all housing areas on-campus, access control locks were installed a few weeks ago on the exterior common area doors in Mountain View Towers, Bullen, Richards and Merrill. These additions are now inline with other on-campus housing locations where exterior doors are always locked.
“Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, all exterior doors will be locked 24/7 with the exception of the following doors, which will be unlocked during area office hours,” the email said, then listed a few exterior doors and the hours they would be unlocked.
Brown said she thinks USU could prevent shootings and violence by making their counseling and mental health resources more accessible. She also said one’s mental well-being could “be an issue that might possibly lead to a shooting.”
There were no campus safety trainings when Miller returned to school — despite the many trainings on sexual assault and underage drinking, she said.
Miller said she is sad to say USU doesn’t seem to prioritize addressing the issues and risks of a potential shooter or violent situation.
“As a student, and parent of current students, I wish USU would be more proactive in preparing staff and students for an emergency,” Miller said.
USU encourages students to review the training material available for active shootings, DeRito said. The USU Police Department will also provide training to faculty, staff and students as requested and works with “emergency management to provide each building and campus with an emergency response team,” DeRito said.
First-year orientation modules also provide information about the run, hide, and fight response to shootings, DeRito said.
— jenny.carpenter@usu.edu