Social Awareness REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS “Research shows that prevention efforts - by teachers, administrators, parents, com- munity members, and even students– can reduce violence and improve the overall school environment.” (Toppo) It is the responsibility of everyone within a community to be aware, speak up, and get involved to make sure that students and schools are safe. After several clues about Har- ris, and Klebold surfaced. They had been arrested, wrote gruesome journals and had people buy weapons for them. If just , 17 one of these facts would have been presented before Steven Curnow, 14 it is possible that this tragedy could have been prevented. People need to speak Corey Depooter, 17 up and get involved when something is not right. Kelly Fleming, 16

Works Cited Matthew Kechter, 16 CNN. " Shootings Fast Facts." 6 May 2015. CNN Library. 27 June 2015 Daniel Mauser, 15 . Crminal Justice Degrees Guide. "Criminal Justice Degrees Daniel Rohrbough, 15 Guide." 2015. 9 Ways School Has Changed Since Columbine. 28 June 2015 . , 17 Cullen, Dave. "The Four Most Important Lessons of Colum- bine." 29 April 2009. Slate Magazine. 2016 June Isaiah Shoels, 18 2015 . History.com. History.com. 2009 Columbine High School Lauren Townsend, 18 Shootings. 27 June 2015 . Kyle Valasquez, 16 6/28/2015 Why? What is being done to What happened? keep kids safe at school? No one is completely sure why On April 20th, 1999, one Klebold and Harris attacked their -thousand nine hundred forty- school and peers. There are many five students went into Colum- theories out there, however none bine High School, but only one of these theories seem to stick. Un- -thousand nine hundred thirty- like other high school shootings, it one students came out alive. does not appear that either were Dylan Klebold, 17, and Eric victims of . It also does not harris,18, went into school seem that they targeted anyone specifically in the attack. Rules at schools have been stricter with the hopes of ending their and more harshly enforced ever since the fellow peers lives by detonat- Columbine shooting. To avoid anything ing the bombs they made set The most popular theory is so horrific from ever happening again, for 11:17am. When the bombs that Harris and Klebold wanted to teachers keep their eye out for any kind failed to detonate, Klebold, of odd behavior, and try to get kids to in- be famous for causing the most and Harris went inside and be- teract and talk about issues. To make deaths in U.S. history. If their bombs gan shooting. 12 students and schools safer the following have also would have detonated, they would 1 teacher were killed, 28 were been enforced: have taken out nearly 600 of the injured and finally Klebold and  Student privileges are limited students at one time. The other Harris killed themselves.  Emergency crisis plans bombs they had placed were to kill the people that were fleeing school,  Cell phones are allowed on campus including police officers, staff, more  More mental health counseling students, rescue workers, and re-  Bullying and violence prevention pro- porters. If the bombs did go off grams then the body count would have  Zero-tolerance policies been over 100 times what it origi-  Increased communication nally ended up being.  Heightened school security By increasing the awareness of schools When the bombs did not go and the community, we have been able off as planned they went on a to prevent tragedies such as Columbine shooting rampage. and prepare for a worse case scenario.