Violent threats at South Bend area schools surge after Florida shooting

Tribune reporter Lincoln Wright came to my office for an interview over my lunch break. I was particularly interested in this story because my children were at Adams High School when these threats were made. During our dinner conversation, my son Daniel described his reaction to his friend who panicked during class and how others laughed off the threat and his friend’s distress. Local journalism has an important role of defining and clarifying our interdependence in the South Bend Area community. This one hit close to home for me.

As a psychologist, I thought the most important contribution I could make to this topic was to highlight prosocial and antisocial power. It paralleled a concern I have for my children at each school they attend. How much voice and shared responsibility are they allowed? I see this as directly related to the kinds of threats covered in this story and I was pleased how Lincoln Wright was able to include the positive message to end his piece.