Brown University kicked off the new semester on Tuesday amid lingering shock from a mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of two students and left nine others injured. Just days after the incident, concerns surfaced regarding campus safety, especially since critics pointed out that security measures permitted the assailant to carry out the attack and evade immediate capture.
Graduate student Jack DiPrimio expressed his struggles with returning to campus. “Coming back feels surreal. The tragedy happened a month ago, but it feels so fresh. The memorial is beautiful, yet it’s tough to pass by without feeling emotional,” he shared. He reflected on seeing his friends’ faces commemorated there, which added an odd layer of sorrow to the experience.
The assailant, identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, had previously disclosed to authorities that he had been plotting the shooting for several months. In a baffling statement following the attack, he remarked, “It’s over. I was a bit incompetent, but at least I did something.” His rampage not only affected students at Brown but also an MIT professor.
Reports indicate that Brown University has faced scrutiny over how the gunman managed to evade law enforcement and mainly how his identity was revealed through interactions with homeless individuals on campus. There’s some ambiguity over whether the homeless man is still residing in the vicinity.
Security policies at Brown have come under fire, notably from the Trump administration, for potentially allowing the attacker to escape unnoticed while the university struggled to provide essential information. Concerns were raised about delayed emergency notifications that left many questioning the effectiveness of the safety alert system.
In response, Brown President Christina Paxson announced on the week following the shooting that the university would enact tougher security measures, including stricter ID card policies and a closure of certain classrooms and hallways in the affected building.
DiPrimio noted he’s witnessed improvements on campus, such as enhanced emergency resources and an increased physical security presence, saying, “I hope we learn from this incident and work together as a community.” Some students have formed a group named Brown University Students Demand Action, aiming to explore actionable steps in the wake of the shooting, including advocacy for potential changes in gun laws.
Amid this, while federal prosecutors have identified Neves Valente as the shooter, the university community grapples with the dual challenges of mourning and navigating their safety in an evolving landscape.
