20 Years After Virginia Tech, We Can Do More to Keep Students Safe
Hope is not a policy, writes Joseph Samaha. We must match our back-to-school hopes with uncompromising action.
August brings new beginnings for students as families drive to colleges and universities across the nation. Twenty years ago, in April 2007, Reema was one of 32 victims killed on that fateful day at Virginia Tech. Since then, mass violence has become a recurring nightmare for American parents. Every August, millions of parents still make the same drive, entrusting their children to higher education institutions.
In the years since Virginia Tech, we have learned valuable lessons about recognizing warning signs, responding to mental health crises, and implementing stronger safety protocols on campus. However, the challenge remains: knowing what works and consistently implementing it. As another school year begins, we must demand measurable and accountable action from lawmakers, university leaders, and citizens.
Campus safety cannot be reactive; it should be proactive. Every college president and administrator should demonstrate their commitment to safety through regular self-assessments using the 32 National Campus Safety Initiative (32NCSI). This tool, launched by the VTV Family Outreach Foundation in partnership with NASPA, provides a framework for assessing critical areas of campus safety and infrastructure.
It is time to hold ourselves accountable. Campus safety should begin long before students arrive on campus. Evidence-based programs, such as Preventing Problems by Promoting Positive Practices (P5), should be implemented in elementary, middle, and high schools to help educators and school resource officers recognize concerns, build relationships, and address problems before they escalate.
Finally, we need to restore national infrastructure for campus safety. The National Center for Campus Public Safety, which was established in 2013, has been inactive since its funding was cut. A sustained national center is necessary to conduct research, develop best practices, and provide campus security training. In 2026, we have no excuse to wait for another tragedy.
On this back-to-school day, let us not let hope be a policy, but rather match our hopes with unwavering action. Twenty years after I guided my daughter Reema into Virginia Tech, every parent should feel secure driving away from a college campus, confident their child has a bright future ahead.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
