Florida State University (FSU) is slated to restart classes today, just a few days following a mass shooting on campus where eight individuals were shot, resulting in two deaths. According to WFTV, this decision comes amid ongoing concerns from students, many of whom have expressed that they are "still shaken up" and do not feel safe returning to what is effectively an active crime scene. "I don’t feel safe on campus. Being asked to pretend like this never happened and go back to an active crime scene less than a week after members of our community were killed," Madalyn Propst stated.
WESH reported that amid these concerns, FSU President Richard McCullough acknowledged the unease within the student body, stating, "I know it won’t feel like a normal week," acknowledging the looming finals and the need for students to process the traumatic event. One student commented, "I think it's almost like a slap in the face." The two victims who were fatally shot were identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two, and Robert Morales, an FSU alumnus and dining coordinator.
Despite the return to class, President McCullough has offered flexibility, revealing that many courses will provide remote options and all mandatory attendance policies have been waived. This means that no student will be penalized for choosing not to attend in-person classes. This flexibility also extends to the possibility for students to request an incomplete grade if they deem themselves not ready to complete a course at this time.
