The week of August 25, 2025, multiple colleges and universities across the United States received calls reporting an active shooter on campus. On Monday alone, six local police stations responded to threats of a shooter located somewhere on the campus.
According to TIME, these calls, known as “swatting”, are made to “divert first responders away from real emergencies” according to. Though the empty nature of these threats may make them appear harmless, they can have a negative effect on the safety of the community, distracting law enforcement.
According to AP News, throughout the week, schools including Villanova University, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and the University of Kentucky, were terrorized by these phone calls.
Amalia Stehly, a CCHS alumnus of the class of 2025 and a student at the University of Kentucky, heard reports of a shooter on campus while in her chemistry lecture. The university’s response was quick, as Amalia shares “…safety here is their number one priority.”
Luckily, schools such as the University of Kentucky have protective security measures. “…they have an app, as well, that every student had to download” mentions Amalia while discussing campus safety measures.
School shooting threats are often not empty or false, and the U.S. has faced over 45 shootings at colleges and K-12 schools in 2025 alone. Most recently was the tragedy in Minneapolis, Minnesota in which a Catholic school was targeted while attending an all-school mass.
According to CBS News, two students were found dead, ages 10 and 8. Three adults and eighteen students were injured, but are reported to have survived.
The perpetrator, whose mother had been previously employed at both the school and the parish, shot through the windows of the church. She then went on to take her own life tragically in the back of the church.
As the country grapples with these threats and tragedies, our Cathedral Catholic community must consider the consequences of such occurrences and the effect they have on our school.
Our class of 2026 is currently beginning to apply to colleges and universities, and as they consider where to spend their next four years it is important to be aware of the threats and hardships these campuses face.
Additionally, as a Catholic school attending bi-weekly, all school masses, the tragedy in Minneapolis hits close to home for many. In times of uncertainty, it is important to look to the top-notch security team working around the clock to protect us.
The Senior Director of Security and Emergency Management, Carlos Sanchez, fondly known as “Los”, has been working with the CCHS security team to study the recent tragedies and improve our protection based on those situations.
“I do research”, states Los, “I read a lot about it because there’s always things that come out that maybe we haven’t thought of.”
To those anxious and frightened by the recent events, Los emphasizes that “We’re fortunate enough to have the support of a lot of resources…that afford us the privilege of being able to have the best cameras or the best check in processes.”
He additionally encourages students to “build relationships with the security team,” understanding that the team’s job is the protection of our student body. In such times of tragedy and uncertainty, it is important to lean on one another and support one another daily. As shootings and violence continue to plague schools nationally, affecting colleges and elementary schools alike, our CCHS community must band together, prioritizing love and kindness.
