The harrowing tragedy that took place in Lewiston on October 25th left every Mainer in shock. Eighteen innocent lives were lost and 13 people were injured. Maine is a small, close-knit state, and the ripple effect was felt by everyone across the state. Given SMCC’s proximity to Lewiston, it was inevitable that the school community would feel the impact of the tragic shooting in many ways.

SMCC’s campus sits right on the beautiful Casco Bay, just 50 minutes away from Schemengees Bar & Grill, the 1st location at which Robert Card opened fire. SMCC’s proximity to the shootings surely played a part in the closing of campus and the cancellation of classes the following days. Another potential factor in the closing of the campus was simply to allow students and faculty to process the tragedy. The Lewiston/Auburn area makes up no small part of the demographic of students and faculty at SMCC. SMCC has 58 current students from Auburn, as well as 9 faculty and staff. We have 118 students from Lewiston, and 11 faculty and staff. Those are significant numbers. It’s safe to assume that every person from that demographic was deeply and personally affected by the events of October 25th. 

History professor Eben Miller is one of the faculty members who lives in Lewiston; close to both Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Hospital. He has a child in the Lewiston school system. He told The Beacon that it is not unusual to hear sirens or LifeFlight helicopters in the area due to the nearby hospital. On the night of the shootings, after an unusually long bout of sirens, he and his wife began to suspect that there was a large fire in the area. Of course, the actual reality would turn out to be much worse. By 7:30pm he had received a text from the superintendent’s office that there was an active shooter. The text was ordering everyone to stay in the school, as there were Parent-Teacher conferences taking place. “It was shocking to learn what was happening,” Miller said while recounting the time he and his wife spent watching the news waiting for updates. “After the first hours, though, we did not feel an acute sense of danger, just sadness and anger.” 

Sadness and anger are an accurate way to describe how many Mainers and Lewiston residents must have been feeling. It is not easy watching your community come under attack. Miller said his family obeyed the shelter-in-place order, so they did not see the flurry of media flock to the area. Instead, they were watching it on TV, which Miller described as  “both odd and haunting to be viewing innocuous and familiar sites through the lens of a national tragedy and on cable news.”

In the aftermath of the shootings, one thing on the minds of many is the security procedures on SMCC’s campus. Many wonder whether or not our security procedures are enough. Are they being reviewed? Campus Security and Safety Officer Michael Hobbs says SMCC security is working diligently on ensuring that they have the best protocols in place. “We are always looking to improve our response to incidents, including active shooter situations,” Hobbs ensured. “Currently we are reviewing and updating our procedures as needed. When completed, we will be doing a campus-wide training for anyone interested in attending.” It is reassuring to know that student and faculty safety takes precedence at a time like this, and it would be wise to keep an eye out and participate in the training, to be sure of your own safety.

President Tiffanie Bentley told The Beacon that the decision to close campus is 100% up to The President. “The first thing I did was reach out to our research people to find out how many students we have from Lewiston,” said President Bentley. She explained that she was looking to see how many people would be impacted by the shelter-in-place order, which was a key factor in her decision. In the aftermath, President Bentley expressed that it was key for the school to deliver access to mental health resources for students and faculty who needed it. However, to her surprise, not a single student or faculty member reached out. Social services remain available and diligent, with a social worker accessible on campus for all who need it. 

October’s tragedy will go down in Maine history as one of our darkest days. Much of our community has been severely touched and affected by the shooting. Thoughts are going through the minds of all Mainers, and SMCC continues to offer important resources to those who may need them.