As I write this, my alma mater, Florida State University, is under attack. At least one active shooter is going through campus. I hear “the Bellamy Building,” and I know it well. It’s where my graduate student office was. It was the place where I taught my classes.

Today is the 18th anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, where my colleague lost his son, a bright young man full of life who loved to teach. I remember zooming over to our daycare to pick up my oldest child very early that day. Last year, I said goodbye to my friend who lost his son, with his family gathered around for his final hours of life.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is @JohnTures2.