Security at University Campuses in Florida Under Scrutiny

Introduction to the Issue

TALLAHASSEE — After a mass shooting last month at Florida State University that killed two people, officials will look at building security on campuses across the state and hold a “safety summit” in October, university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said Thursday.

Assessing Campus Security

Rodrigues told the system’s Board of Governors that campus leaders will assess the security of buildings and the ability to carry out what he called a “lockdown drill.” He said the goal is to be done by the end of the summer, which would provide time to make budget requests for the 2026 legislative session.
“Specifically, we want to know if the doors can be locked from the inside, and if there are windows in the doors, can those be covered or protected?” Rodrigues said.

Upcoming Safety Summit

He said the October event will allow universities to share information about “best practices” and discuss the results of the assessments of campus safety.
“The goal there would be to identify what we can do to improve across each of our university campuses, as well as identify common concerns so that we will know if we want to make any policy requests of the Legislature for the 2026 session,” Rodrigues said.

Details of the Shooting Incident

Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student, faces first-degree murder and attempted murder charges in the April 17 mid-day shooting that killed FSU dining coordinator Robert Morales and Aramark Collegiate Hospitality employee Tiru Chabba and wounded five students. Ikner also was shot by police and was released Monday from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. He is being held in the Wakulla County Jail.

Response to the Incident

Rodrigues on Thursday praised FSU police officers, who rushed to the scene of the shooting. He said the five wounded students have been released from the hospital.
“I feel confident in saying the response of the FSU campus police in this situation was nothing short of amazing, and this could have been a much, much worse tragedy than it was,” Rodrigues said. “Obviously, tragic to have students shot and to have any loss of life. But the quick response of the FSU campus police prevented this from being much, much, much worse.”

Historical Context of School Safety Measures

While it is too early to know what the campus-security assessments will find, the state has taken numerous steps to try to bolster security at elementary, middle and high schools since the 2017 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people and injured 17 others.
Lawmakers and then-Gov. Rick Scott quickly passed a package of school-safety measures after the shooting, and lawmakers have repeatedly revisited the issue in the following years. Also, the state created the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to study school safety and make recommendations.

Conclusion

The recent shooting at Florida State University has brought the issue of campus security into sharp focus. The planned assessment of building security and the upcoming safety summit are steps towards addressing these concerns. The swift response of the FSU police has been recognized, but there is an understanding that more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies in the future. The historical context of school safety measures in Florida highlights the ongoing efforts to improve security, but the challenge remains to ensure all educational institutions are as safe as possible.

FAQs

Q: What incident prompted the review of campus security in Florida?

A: A mass shooting at Florida State University that killed two people and wounded five students.

Q: What actions are being taken to address campus security?

A: Assessments of building security, including the ability to lock doors from the inside and protect windows, and a safety summit to share best practices.

Q: What is the timeline for the security assessments?

A: The goal is to complete the assessments by the end of summer to allow for budget requests for the 2026 legislative session.

Q: What historical event has influenced school safety measures in Florida?

A: The 2017 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people and injured 17 others.