Lizzie Swanson ’28
Chief News Editor
As of Sept. 10, 2025, there have been 47 school shootings in the United States. 24 of them have occurred on college campuses. With such an uptick of violence trickling its way into higher education, students, faculty, and staff are concerned about their own safety on campus. The Spire has reached out to college President Vincent Rougeau, Chief of Campus Police, Shawn DeJong, the Department of Risk Management, and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for comment concerning this issue.
Regarding recent events, President Rougeau had the following sentiments to offer. “The recent gun violence and other threats and acts of violence on college campuses weigh heavily on my mind, as I’m sure they do for many of you. Amid these very difficult events, I want students to know that their safety is our utmost priority. The Department of Public Safety is at the forefront of our efforts and has implemented specific training and standards centered on campus violence. They collaborate closely with our Emergency Response Team to continually review and strengthen our safety plans. During these challenging times, may we continue to look after one another with trust, compassion, and hope.”
In an interview with The Spire, Chief DeJong discussed Holy Cross’ plan to keep students and faculty safe. In addition to an emergency response team, Holy Cross has a comprehensive emergency management plan that is renewed every two years, most recently this past summer. Additionally, DPS has recently upgraded the access control system of ID cards. “A recent security enhancement involves the upgrade from swipe-based to RFID door access systems. This project, overseen by DPS, ITS, and Residential Life, replaces older technology that was vulnerable to card cloning and skimming. The new RFID system uses encrypted, dynamic codes, making it much more difficult for unauthorized individuals to copy card data. In the event of an emergency on campus, an emergency notification would be sent to all community members via text, email, and phone.” (Statement given by DPS)
DeJong explained the various measures the college implements to prioritize safety. “Safety on a college campus required a two-pronged approach. Prevention and then response.” Prevention is what the department can do to plan in advance. When it comes to large gatherings on campus, DPS leaves no stone unturned. “We consult with intelligence analysts … Those analysts are typically with the state police or the FBI. We reach out to them to determine if there are any specific threats that we should be aware of with our planned events.”
When asked how our community can spot tragedies before they occur, Chief DeJong offered a response which focused on individual student well-being. Students should report suspicious comments or behavior when the actions are repeated and intentful. Those who might show an inordinate interest in weapons, make concerning comments on a regular basis, and those who threaten retribution through violence warrant a report. “It doesn’t mean that this person is ultimately going to be determined a threat, but it gives us an opportunity to make a review.” As a member of the Threat Assessment Group (TAG), Chief DeJong works to identify potential violence on campus. “TAG is only made possible by referrals from students, faculty, and staff who are concerned about someone… Look at it, acknowledge it, and report it.”
Community members are encouraged to email DPS: publicsafety@holycross.edu or visit https://www.holycross.edu/community/safety-security/make-a-report with any concerns they might have. To report an active threat however, students and staff should call 911 or the emergency line: 508-793-2222.
In addition to prevention, officers are trained in response protocols. “We are capable of responding to an active shooter incident… We have the equipment we need to respond. We have the training platform to prepare, and we have the support from the administration to continue this.” Holy Cross has offered active shooter training for faculty, staff, and students in the past. Because of recent political and academic violence, these initiatives will be expanding. To conclude, The Spire asked what was one thing Chief DeJong would like students to take away from the interview. “Stay alert and don’t ignore red flags anywhere in your life. Share your knowledge and concerns with someone. Seek out the resources to manage stress. Come to us if you need us, we’re here.”
The College of the Holy Cross prioritizes student safety and well-being through extensive measures taken by administration and the Department of Public Safety. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the DPS’ non-emergency number: 508-793-2224.
Featured image courtesy of Google Images
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