By Joshua Geaughan 

In response to the shooting at Brown University on December 13, which killed two students and injured nine more, Roger Williams University has increased campus security as students round out finals. In the email sent to students and faculty, President Ioannis Miaoulis explains that, over Tuesday and Wednesday, RWU’s Public Safety increased patrols and coordination with the Bristol Town Police. The response from the university has drawn criticism as students reflect both on the campus’s immediate response to the shooting and bigger questions about year-round security.  

Over the last two days, students have noticed a clear increase of Bristol town Police on campus, but they still worry about other aspects of school security. Students noticed that the guardhouse at the main entrance remained unmanned as usual. RWU student Johnathon Joceon explains, “they should think more about long-term solutions. We have a gatehouse where public safety is supposed to be. I think there should be someone there 24/7.”  

In addition to campus entrances being usually open to the public, students noted that other school buildings, such as Global Heritage Hall (GHH), the library, and even the North Campus residence hall, are similarly open. Multiple students did caveat this point by explaining that, although keeping these places open—especially GHH—for extended hours of the day presents a security risk, they also believe it is necessary for the building to be open 24/7 to allow students to study. 

Another RWU student, Gabriella Hernandez, questioned the specific tactics that the university chose to increase security in immediate response to the shooting. “There’ll be extra police presence, which I guess in a way makes you feel safer, but also makes you feel more anxious. Like, you know, this is the life we’re living. Like every corner you turn, there’s a police officer, and it’s less safe and more like a reminder that you’re not safe here.”

Hernandez continued, saying that it’s scary to be on campus, especially since RWU doesn’t have many security measures in place. She compared the “open” nature of the campus to Brown and explained how Brown University is the same way that Roger Williams is. 

For many students, Brown University, although being across the bay, feels much closer than it seems. Student Katora Hughe explains, “Sometimes I go to Brown to go out to eat with my friend, and she goes to Brown, and I will wait for her in the library. So to see that on TikTok that they’re students were in the library working on their finals, and a shooter was in the library, it hit me a little bit hard.”

Many students expressed that although they were aware of the recent shootings across the country at multiple college campuses, they never expected one to occur so close to their own university.

Hernandez felt like the university’s response was insufficient. “I feel like they are just waving it away. I mean, their response was to just continue on with our finals. And the only amount of security we have is the two days of expanded police presence, which, again, it’s only the two days. “

Her opinion was echoed by other students who felt like the university’s response was tone deaf. Jonathan Joceon noted that, as part of the University of Rhode Island’s response, the university allowed students to take their final exams online. He wished Roger had chosen a similar approach, explaining that the school has the resources and systems to move all the exams online, and it wouldn’t be much of a hassle. 

In his email to students, President Mialious explained that the administration heard of many complaints and requests, but after consulting with “deans, faculty, and public safety leadership,” they decided to proceed with on-campus finals. 

Hernandez explains how she believes that the university must make long-term changes in the way it considers students’ safety, “We can no longer think, ‘oh, it’ll never happen to us,’ because it can. This is Brown University’s first shooting ever. It can happen. Even though it hasn’t happened to us in the past, there’s nothing that’s stopping it now.”

As of Dec. 18, the gunman has not yet been caught; as of this date, the Providence Police have identified a new person of interest. The investigation is still ongoing.