Interesting challenge

Ooooookay. I wonder how something like this would go over at my parish…

Students at NIU spread the word using cells, text

Looks like 1 thing improved in the response at NIU since the VA Tech incident 10 months ago. The students took it into their own hands – literally – to get the word out that something was going on. Students began texting to other students literally while the shooting was going on warning them clear of the lecture hall and to get out of range as quickly as possible. The official word from the University apparently took the form of a posting on the school’s web page warning of a “possible gunman on campus” about 20 minutes after the shooting.

I think the students have the right idea. Thankfully, they’re a lot faster at that texting gig than “old fumble-thumbs” here at HoodaThunk?! Until the self-defense situation on our campuses improve, students would be well advised to become practiced at texting. And parents, in spite of my previous feelings on the matter, would be better off upgrading their kids’ cell plans to include unlimited messaging. It’s cheap when you think of it as an insurance policy.

Northern Illinois U. dead now number 6.

The big news item this morning, of course, is the multiple killings at Northern Illinois University where a gunman (and former student) opened fire in a lecture hall. At last count, I head that 18 had been hit. As of this morning, 6 are now dead.

I will have more to say on the issue but, for the moment, I just want to offer sympathies to the families of the dead and wounded. I pray for the recovery of those in the hospital and for the souls of those who didn’t survive.

More to come…