After the Homecoming Shooting, SC State Struggles to Heal:
Students, faculty, and parents reflect on the emotional aftershocks of a moment that changed the campus community.
When gunfire erupted during South Carolina State University’s 2025 Homecoming celebration, what should have been a joyful weekend instantly turned into a scene of chaos and fear. In the days that followed, the campus community found itself trying to recover at one of the toughest academic moments of the semester. Students were forced to navigate midterms, looming finals, and the usual pressures of college life all while coping with shock, grief, and a shaken sense of safety.
For many, the emotional impact was immediate. Students described trouble focusing in class, waking up with anxiety, feeling uneasy walking across campus, and struggling to re-establish routines. What had once felt like a familiar and predictable environment suddenly felt fragile.
“I kept trying to study, but my mind was somewhere else,” one student recalled. “Every loud noise made me jump. It was like I couldn’t turn my brain off.”
Academic Expectations Collide With Emotional Recovery
The incident didn’t pause the academic calendar. Midterms, projects, and exams forged ahead even as students were still processing what they had experienced.
Some students felt overwhelmed by the expectation to continue performing academically. Others said they felt guilty for falling behind, even though they knew their emotional state was valid.
Professors, too, were navigating the aftermath. Many faculty members described experiencing their own fear and uncertainty yet felt compelled to show strength for the sake of their students. In the days after the shooting, a number of instructors adjusted deadlines, offered extensions, or simply opened the door for conversation.
“We were all hurting,” one faculty member explained. “You can’t pretend students can absorb complex material when they’re still trying to feel safe.”
Several departments encouraged instructors to prioritize well-being, reminding them that flexibility and compassion were essential during times of crisis. This shift sparked broader discussions about mental health, trauma-informed teaching, and how universities should respond when violence impacts learning environments.
Campus-Wide Conversations About Safety and Support
The shooting also reignited long-standing conversations about campus safety. Students reported feeling nervous walking alone, especially at night, and expressed frustration that violence had reached a place they considered home.
Counseling services saw an increase in inquiries, and student groups organized discussions focused on healing, fear, and the desire for change. Though some students said they appreciated the resources made available, others felt that the emotional impact was too deep to resolve quickly.
“You don’t just snap back to normal,” said one student. “Your body might be on campus, but your mind keeps replaying everything.”
Despite the fear, many students described a renewed sense of solidarity checking on friends more often, walking in groups, and leaning on one another for comfort.
Parents Face Their Own Fears
The emotional ripple effects extended beyond campus. Many parents learned about the danger only after the lockdown lifted, receiving frantic text messages or social media updates from their children. For families who send their students to college believing they will be safe while pursuing their dreams, the shooting introduced a painful new layer of worry.
Parents described sleepless nights, fear every time the phone rang, and a new vigilance about campus alerts.
One mother said, “You send your child to college hopeful about their future. You never expect to hear they were in danger. It changes you.”
For many families, the incident created ongoing anxiety an invisible burden layered onto the academic pressures their children already face.
The Long Road to Healing
While time has helped, the emotional aftershocks of the Homecoming shooting have not faded overnight. Students continue to navigate coursework while managing trauma, and faculty work to balance academic rigor with compassion. Parents remain both proud and fearful, wanting their children to succeed but wishing they could protect them from everything.
The SC State community has begun important conversations about mental health, about safety, about what it means to support one another in moments of crisis. But healing is not linear, and the path forward is still unfolding.
What remains clear is that one violent moment created lasting effects changing how students move through campus, how faculty approach their classrooms, and how families view the college experience. Despite the pain, many say they’ve also witnessed resilience, unity, and a deeper sense of care among the campus community.
As one student put it, “We’re still here. Still healing. Still trying. And we’re doing it together.”
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