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Bowie State offers support for students following homecoming shooting
Bowie State University has canceled classes for the remainder of the week, just days after a weekend shooting that injured two men during its homecoming festivities Saturday night. FOX 5's Nana-Sentuo Bonsu spoke to the university's director of counseling services about the support they're offering students.
PRINCE GEOREGE'S COUNTY, Md. - Bowie State University cancels classes for the remainder of the week, just days after a weekend shooting that injured two men during its homecoming festivities Saturday night.
via Bowie State University
The university announced the news in a message sent out to students and faculty that encourages "everyone to address their mental well-being." Classes were also canceled for Monday.
Dr. Aquila Mitchell, director of counseling services at Bowie State, says her team is meeting students where they are.
"The healing process takes time," she said. "The first part is acknowledging how you’re feeling. The next part is seeking out those services, so you can begin that process," she explained. "Having that respite, that time to de-stress is very important for their mental health and well-being. We have the expectation that they are able to keep moving forward and attend their classes, but this has impacted them mentally at a very severe level."
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Bowie State, Morgan State shootings raise questions about university security
Both Bowie State and Morgan State Universities are dealing with the aftermath of gun violence on campus and it's raising questions about security.
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Bowie State cancels classes after shooting, students speak out
A shooting on campus left two nineteen-year-olds in the hospital after homecoming festivities.
In addition to the 24-hour helpline, Dr. Mitchell's staff will be going to residence halls, and holding a number of counseling sessions and seminars for students this week.
Kairiq Jones, a senior at the university, says this move by school leaders shows they care, and he wants the student body to take advantage of their time off.
"Take this time to be self-aware and be cautious with what’s been going on with your life," the SGA vice president advised. "Take this time to do a 360, take a break, worry about your mental – getting your class work done too because you got a semester to prepare for after classes are back in session so worry about your mental, physical and emotional."
Tuesday is also World Mental Health Day. The university hosted the Just Heal Bro Tour on campus.
It's a national wellness tour for men – in partnership with the Borris Henson Foundation – giving men of all ages a space to bond and connect.
This event was already in the works prior to the shooting.
At this time, authorities believe there was more than one shooter involved.
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Updates on Bowie State University shooting: 2 injured, police believe multiple shooters involved
Police say two 19-year-olds were injured in a shooting at Bowie State University during a homecoming event. At this time, they believe there was more than 1 shooter. School officials say classes have been canceled for Monday.
This shooting comes just days after a similar incident at Morgan State University – another HBCU about 35 miles north of Bowie. Five people were shot and injured at a homecoming event there. Four of them have since been released from the hospital.
It's been confirmed that the suspects involved in this incident were not students at Bowie, or Morgan, police say. They are following up on leads.