news-record.com

Another minute, another day, another year.

One year ago this week, N.C. A&T student Dennis Stewart Hayle was shot and killed outside of his apartment off Homeland Avenue near campus. Students remembered him by wearing purple and gold in honor of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. They also came together for a walk to stop violence.

Many showed to participate in what may become an annual event to observe Hayle’s death as well as make others aware of their cause for putting an end to violence on campus and throughout Greensboro.

Those who knew him or of him walked to Hayle’s former workplace in the Memorial Student Union.

Walking in pairs, it took a solid five minutes at least for the entire line of students to pass between Holland Hall and the Holland Bowl.

Why aren’t these same numbers of students showing up to meetings to prevent violence and promote safety?

I recall the last safety forum I attended on campus and the small number of A&T students who came — only weeks after Hayle’s death.

I feel somewhat safer knowing that Greensboro and university police are doing their jobs, but my fear is that students are not.

If even half of the people who participated in the walk to the Student Union were to travel to a town hall meeting or safety forum, they could make a difference.

Unless students make an effort to make their concerns known, it implies that they have none.

It shouldn’t take someone’s death for students to want to put a stop to violence within their community. If you participated, what were your true reasons for walking on Monday?

— Stacie Bailey

The writer is a senior at N.C. A&T and a News & Record editorial intern.