College students everywhere have been immersed in updates, memorials and opinions of the Virginia Tech murders for the past week and a half.

Self-portraits and videos of the killer have flooded the Internet and splashed across television screens worldwide.

We have worn ribbons and joined Facebook groups in memory to mourn the victims, all the while wondering why.

As we move forward in time, we will heal. But before we become too complacent, let us remember who we are.

Or rather, who we are not.

We are not students in a high-security facility with thorough background checks of incoming students.

That may not even be a feasible solution given budgets and time restraints.

We currently only have the same kind of e-mail system in place as Va. Tech, along with a few police cars with public address capabilities and a plan in the form of a phone tree.

There are plenty of loopholes in the security on this, or any campus. But we must remember that security usually comes at the price of fewer liberties. Choosing between the two is never easy. It wasn’t after Columbine or 9/11, and it won’t be now.

The only way to be completely safe from negative outside influences would be to spend our lives in solitary confinement. There is a certain amount of risk that comes with the liberty and rights we hold so dear.

That being said, you never really know if you’re safe.

How well do you know your suitemate?

How about your lab partner?

Or the kid in your class that never says a word?

Let us not be lulled into a false sense of security. St. Joseph is not immune to evil, nor are we immortal. The powers that be have a responsibility to do everything possible to keep us safe and alert us if there should be danger. Virginia Tech was a wake-up call showing the importance of immediate communication between school administrators and students.

Also, as individuals, we have accountability for our own well-being, as well as the safety of others. Many stories emerged from this tragedy of people who had that extra moment to think and acted in ways  that saved lives — some losing theirs in the process.

No matter how dire the situation may seem, there is always something that can be done.