Florida State University students and staff returned to campus for their first day of classes after a recent mass shooting that left two dead and six injured. The mood on campus was subdued and emotional as students tried to resume some sense of normalcy.
FSU President Richard McCullough visited memorials set up around campus and spoke with students, expressing that it was emotional but important for classes to resume. Many students, like FSU sophomore Bobby Bowden, felt that returning to class and getting back into routine would help them be productive again.
To accommodate students during this difficult time, professors are offering three options for closing out the semester: accepting their current grade, finishing virtually, or requesting an incomplete grade and completing finals later.
Students like FSU freshman Courtney Lesser, who was on lockdown during the shooting, returned to campus to be with friends and face the reality of the tragedy before the fall semester. The presence of animal therapy on campus provided comfort to students, like FSU junior Christina Elms, who were processing the pain of the shooting.
Overall, the FSU community is trying to come together and support each other as they navigate the aftermath of the shooting. McCullough emphasized the importance of students being able to return and finish the semester before graduation, allowing them to find closure and move forward. Students are determined to reclaim their sense of safety and normalcy on campus despite the tragic events that have occurred.
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