Students react to Boston bombing

As cell phones across campus lit up with the breaking news of Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing, many students called loved ones in Boston to check about their well-being.

Just before 3 p.m. on the East Coast, a blast rang through the crowd that had collected on Boylston Street, just before the finish line of the 26.2 mile race. Seconds later and about a football field-and-a-half away, a second bomb detonated, no doubt confirming the darkest fears of everyone present. Chaos ensued as spectators and runners bolted from the bloody scene, unsure of where they could find safety and dreading any subsequent explosions. According to The New York Times, the attack left three dead, including an 8-year-old who was among the spectators. Officials said more than 150 people were injured.

A day later, many students continue to react to the bombing with both lingering shock and deepening sadness.

“I first heard about the bombing when I saw it on the TV at Ronald Tutor Hall, and then I continued to follow the story throughout the day,” said Kathryn Daniels, a graduate student studying biomedical engineering.

Daniels said the events reminded her of other tragic events in the United States’ recent past and noted the frightening nature of such sudden attacks.

“There’s been so many of these events that have happened over the past year, with the Colorado shooting and Newtown, so its tough not to be scared. But you have to live your life and keep going,” Daniels said.

Despite commentaries attributing the attack to a terrorist, most students remain aware that no culprit has yet been identified.

“I feel that this is somewhat of an isolated incident, and there seems to be the general impression around the country that this was a terrorist act. But we really don’t know yet. The question remains as to who is responsible, and what was their motive,” said Will Getz, a junior majoring in chemistry and East Asian languages and cultures.

Initial media reports announced that two additional explosives had been found but were not detonated, but Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick invalidated these reports in a press conference Tuesday morning. The only two bombs on the scene were those that exploded, he said.

The federal government has said that no terror organization has claimed responsibility. Police took a Saudi Arabian man into custody for questioning immediately following the blasts, but media reports suggest that he is not associated at all with the attack. No suspect has been declared, and the FBI is continuing its investigation on the matter.

Cecilia Sweet-Coll, a freshman majoring in animation and digital arts, grew up in Boston but did not know anyone involved in the bombing. Sweet-Coll’s chief concern surrounded the racial animosities that she’s seen since the explosions occurred.

“A lot the responses I’ve seen have been virulently racist, and that scares me,” Sweet-Coll said. “There’s been a lot of anti-Muslim and anti-Korean sentiment.”

Meanwhile, university administrators have worked to ensure the well-being of students who may have been directly or indirectly harmed in the blasts.

“As with all tragedies, the first thing we think about is are there students who are affected,” said Lynette Merriman, a senior associate dean of students who heads the crisis management team at USC. “We typically have several students who participate in the marathon each year, so we reached out to Recreational Sports in the Division of Student Affairs and we were provided with a few names of students who ran in the Boston Marathon, and thankfully they are all okay.”

Merriman said the administration has reached out to students who are from and have family in the Boston area. They have also informed students of the many avenues of support that are available at the university.

“At Student Affairs we are always concerned about the stretch of the net we cast. The important thing is that any time someone in our community becomes aware of a student in distress — whether due to what happened in Boston or for other, personal reasons — that they reach out and inform them of the support network we have here,” Merriman said.