Shortly after 10 a.m. on Aug. 27, Mississippi State University was notified by a Mississippi Highway Patrol officer that a suicidal student was on campus and intended to shoot himself or others.
MSU immediately issued a Maroon Alert of an “active shooter” on campus, and police agencies swarmed the campus. The suspect, a 20-year-old freshman from Madison, was quickly detained. He was unarmed and it soon became apparent he had posed no threat to anyone.
In that critical hour, we find no fault with the university’s response to the situation. Based on the information it had at the time, the university acted appropriately. We praise those initial efforts. Likewise, we applaud law enforcement for its well-coordinated, quick response.
There is, however, much to criticize in the university’s handling of the situation in the hours and days that followed.
Once the initial “fog of war” lifted, it was obvious the suspect wasn’t a perpetrator.
It is not at all uncommon for young students, perhaps away from home for the first time, to express thoughts of suicide. The university recognizes this and provides counseling services for these situations. Students are strongly encouraged to reach out to someone when they are having thoughts of suicide. It is widely recognized as the first, most important step, in suicide prevention.
This student’s personal crisis became a public humiliation, and MSU played a conspicuous role in that. University officials, realizing the student could not be charged with any serious offense, nevertheless identified him to the media, and said he would be charged with disorderly conduct. The county prosecutor, finding no evidence of wrongdoing, later said no charges would be filed.
Even so, the university’s posture toward the student remained unsympathetic. He was notified by a letter from the MSU dean of students of his suspension from the university for an alleged violation of the student code of conduct. That letter was dated Aug. 27. He was banned from campus immediately, and was told he could be arrested if he returned.
What we know now — really, what university officials knew on the afternoon of the incident — is that the student broke no law and violated no school policy. Disciplinary action was unjustified.
On Thursday, Yoste said that following a letter he sent MSU asking if the student would be allowed to return to school, the university said it would permit his re-enrollment in classes in January. MSU declined to comment when asked about the student’s readmission.
The university missed a great opportunity that afternoon and the following days.
If ever there were an occasion for the university to remind students of the university’s counseling services and encourage students who are suffering from depression to make use of those services, this was it.
But the university was largely silent on this point and the opportunity was lost.
Perhaps there is a student who is, at this moment, contemplating suicide. What should that student have concluded about the university’s attitude, based on its response to the Aug. 27 situation? It might well be that it is best to keep those thoughts to yourself.
For the sake of the emotionally vulnerable students it is bound to encounter in the future, we hope the university casts a critical eye on its handling of this situation.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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