Students react to nearby shooting

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Friday morning shooting outside a Terre haute bar actually happened on Indiana State University property with the center of campus just minutes away.

• ORIGINAL STORY | Three people shot at Ballyhoo Tavern

Students woke up Friday morning to campus text and e-mail alerts warning them of a lock down because of the shooting. Between classes Friday, students reflected on what happened and how they’ll treat campus differently.

"It freaks me out knowing that my safety is not a guarantee," said ISU student Audrey Nelson.

Nelson saw the victims just minutes before the shooting inside a nearby bar.

Nelson took the situation to heart, and now she'll change her lifestyle because of it.

"Knowing that something like that happened here at a small town bar, I probably won't get out as much anymore," Nelson told News 10.

She isn't alone. It's a chorus sung by the university's police chief as well.

"There is no university that's immune from this sort of thing," ISU Police Chief Bill Mercier said.

Across campus, the feelings seemed to resonate with students of all ages.

"You never want to think it's going to happen so close to campus,” ISU junior RJ Mahurin said. “You hear about stuff about this around the country but you never think it's going to happen at home."

Following the advice of their chief, students plan to do things a little differently.

"Bad things can happen anywhere,” Chief Mercier said. “They need to be cautious. They need to use common sense when they're out and about."

"If you're going to go out, be super safe,” Nelson added. “Be well award of your surroundings."

"When I get older, there are some places that I probably won't ever go to check out after hearing about a lot of things like this," Makenzie Lowry said.

The campus concern increases knowing that one of their own may be responsible.

"That's not ok to just go and shoot somebody and take their life," Nelson said. "A silly mistake like last night took a life."

Several events for the weekend sponsored by the university are canceled this weekend.

ISU police will offer extra patrols this weekend as a precautionary measure.