Gun Violence Epidemic: SCAD Students Respond
Written by Emma Roberts, Graphic by Adrienne Krozack
As lockdowns across the United States have been lifted, a disturbing reality has followed along with it: an increase in gun violence and mass shootings. This unfortunate reality has not gone unnoticed by the student populace at SCAD, who share their perspectives on the issue.
From Amelia Board, second-year sequential arts student
“I’m scared. Mass shootings and gun violence are becoming normalized. It feels like people are becoming numb due to the sheer amount of shootings there are in the United States. The public has advocated for more gun restrictions but it seems like no one who can create change is listening. People are tired of preaching to people who won’t listen. The city of Savannah definitely makes me feel more nervous about gun violence than anywhere else I’ve lived. Especially since I often get school updates on the different crimes and violence that happen close to campus. Almost every one of my teachers has told me a story of them or someone they know getting robbed at gunpoint in Savannah.”
From Moira Haney, third-year animation student
“I am very concerned about increasing gun violence. It was not as large of a worry for me personally ever since COVID. I had been spending most of my time indoors anyway. But in the past few weeks seeing how the lifting of quarantine restrictions seems to coincide with an increase of shootings, it’s only increasing my anxiety about gun violence again. It’s just
depressing that we not only have to worry about a pandemic when going outside but gun violence as well. When classes were still on ground, there was always a lingering anxiety that something might happen during class.”
From Lauren Spanholtz, third-year performing arts student
“If I’m being honest, it makes me a little scared just how frequently I hear about people being shot. It seems like people are accepting this as the norm now and honestly that isn’t okay. I think people are talking about gun violence more now then they ever have before which is a good thing. I think raising awareness of an issue is one of the key factors in nullifying
said issue but, with that being said, I think a lot of people have access to guns.”
From Salem Zigweid, third-year animation student
“It’s pretty disgusting to see that every time we have to send kids to school, we have these little kids worrying about their light up sketchers being the reason they get shot in class. Whenever a shooting does happen, the only thing we get in response are “thoughts and prayers” and then more money goes to the NRA which further prevents gun control laws from happening. Then it’s just a tedious circle at that point. I also worry that when classes go back to in person, a gun violence problem will break out where I am or where my friends are and it just gives me anxiety even thinking about going back to in person classes.”
There is still a lot of work to be done in fixing this issue. While it can be exhausting voicing opinions and never being heard, it is necessary. Continue to speak up and to have these difficult conversations. The only way we’ll get anywhere close to a change is if we continue to fight for it.
