Katina Bias, an ISDS junior, said she feels safer in New York City than Baton Rouge.
“I’m afraid, but it’s not enough to make me change,” Bias said. “I still have to go to class.”
With the end of the semester approaching, University students share Bias’ sense of anxiety since the serial killings in south Louisiana.
Stephanie Kulas, an education senior, said she stays alert when walking late at night and tries not to go anywhere alone.
“I am scared because I don’t feel they’re doing what they can to catch this guy,” Kulas said. “We can’t forget that he’s out there.”
A Spring Break trip to North Carolina opened her eyes to how living in fear in Baton Rouge and at LSU has changed people’s lives.
“They don’t lock their doors in North Carolina,” Kulas said. “It blew my mind.”
Shalita Murdock, a political science freshman, said her parents were afraid of her coming to the University after hearing of the killings and wanted her to go to another college instead.
“They tried to get me to go to Xavier or UNO, but I really wanted to come here,” Murdock said. “It seems like they’re trying to keep us safe with rallies and things like that.”
She said being on campus has added unnecessary stress. She sometimes worries about other friends who have night classes and have to get home at night.
“You can’t trust anyone anymore,” Murdock said. “We’ll take the transit and go with someone to Lockett, even though we live right there in Blake.”
Violet Robert, a Student Health Center social worker, said she has noticed an increase in students suffering from symptoms of anxiety since the serial killer.
“We had a few people who were alarmed at first, but clearly after Carrie Yoder was named missing and then found there was a profound increase [of students with anxiety],” Robert said.
She said students can look for certain symptoms to know if they are suffering from anxiety, including restlessness, sleeplessness or a lack of concentration.
“I’ve seen more of the symptoms rather than people being afraid of the serial killer,” Robert said. “If it’s affecting their ability to go to class or they don’t like how this is changing them, they can see someone about it.”
She said many women changed their philosophy on living and resort to taking measures they said they would never take.
“Someone didn’t believe she’d have to carry mace or buy a gun because they thought they were strong enough, but now they’ve changed their minds,” Robert said.
She said women are not the only people who visit the center with concerns related to the serial killer.
“There have been men that don’t know how to deal with it,” she said. “They fear that if they look at someone, stare at them or go up to make a move, they’ll frighten a girl.”
Michelle Sutter, Mental Health Association director of community relations, said people should not only focus on physical health in the event of an attack but also mental health.
“If they start feeling anxiety about regular tension, they need to know that services are available to them,” Sutter said. “Today is a trying time for everyone. Not only are some students anxious about future terrorist attacks, but they also have to deal with anxiety created by a serial killer.”
She said the anxiety caused by terrorism and events such as horrible killings can cause long-term mental health problems.
“It starts as a temporary feeling but can develop into serious conditions, such as phobias or a fear of leaving their house,” Sutter said. “It’s normal to feel some level of anxiety then things seem unstable. However, there is a difference between being cautious and overreacting.”
Students who want to seek professional help may contact their primary care physician for a referral to a mental health professional, call the Student Health Center at 578-8774 or use an after-hours emergency student hotline, “The Phone,” at 924-5781.