Short North draws new reason for Ohio State and Columbus to do more

Lina Portman1 week ago

0 4 minutes read

“It's incredibly scary to realize that you were so close to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gun violence now seems to permeate every corner of society,” says Phoebe Helms.

Phoebe Helms
| Guest columnist

Phoebe Helms is a 2024 graduate of The Ohio State University with degrees in journalism and political science. The New Albany High School alumna is pursuing her master's degree in public policy at the University of Virginia.

Twenty-four people have been shot in mass shootings in Columbus since May — the month my friends and I graduated from Ohio State University.

Less than an hour before the shots rang out in the Short North arts district on Sunday, we were in the 1100 block of North High Street where 10 people – eight men and two boys aged 16 to 27 – were going be slaughtered.

Since graduation, my friends and I have been celebrating and enjoying our last weeks together. The city's blocks buzz with energy, and nightlife becomes especially popular during the warmer summer months.

We decided to spend Saturday evening at Standard Hall, one of the most popular bars in the area.

After a few hours, we decided to leave the place and go home. About 45 minutes after departure, the shooting occurred at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Nowhere do you feel safe

It's incredibly scary to realize you were about to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Gun violence now seems to permeate every corner of society.

Born in 2002, I grew up in a generation defined by gun violence. Students at Sandy Hook Elementary, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Oxford High School were all my peers.

Fear has been instilled in Generation Z from a young age, with little to no action taken by the government.

What you need to know about filming Short North: Driver of Short North mass shooting turns himself in to Columbus police

The fear of becoming a victim of a mass shooting extends beyond the school walls, however; concerts, clubs, movie theaters, grocery stores have all been targets in recent years and anyone can be a target.

Columbus has become a city at the center of debates over gun violence, particularly since the COVID-19 crisis. Between 2020 and 2023, 41% of Columbus residents will live within a five-minute walk of a fatal shooting, an increase of 13% from pre-pandemic times, according to a New York Times analysis.

Conversations about violence in Columbus: 5 people were shot and killed in Columbus last weekend. What the New York Times says about the city is unfortunately true.

Safety doesn't seem to be a priority

Last Sunday's incident wasn't even the first incident I've experienced, and I'm sure many students and young professionals in Columbus feel the same way.

For the city's college-aged and post-college population, safety does not appear to be a priority for the city or the state of Ohio.

I started studying at Ohio State in August 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Ohio State student Chase Meola was shot and killed Oct. 11 of that year outside a fraternity party.

As of 2020, I am part of the New York Times 41 percent.

The students felt deeply in danger after Meola's death.

The idea that a student could be killed so close to the university, with little protection since the area was declared “off campus,” was disturbing. The incident marked this academic year.

Off-campus shootings have also contributed to a sense of deep vulnerability. Stories of people being shot or robbed just blocks from the union frequently circulated among the student body. Gun-related incidents occurred at Waffle House, United Dairy Farmers, McDonald's, and Buckeye Donuts, all of which posed an overall threat to students living amid the chaos.

More: There have been 12 mass shootings in Columbus since 2023. Here's what we know.

Students can't even feel completely safe while shopping because Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso was shot and killed at the Kroger on the south side of campus.

It feels like there is no escape from the violence and it is exhausting.

We grew up afraid to go to school

The New York Times recently ranked Columbus as the fourth best city to live in for college graduates. However, the city needs to take drastic measures to make its residents feel safe.

My friends and I grew up in a world where we were afraid to go to school. We live in a world where it is dangerous to go to the grocery store. You can't go downtown to enjoy an evening with friends without keeping your head turned.

When we leave our home to go to class, work in town, or have fun, we shouldn't have to worry about whether or not we'll get home.

We deserve to go to school and learn, to get out and experience our community, to have joy in our daily lives without fear of a bullet.

For Columbus’ youth, the city needs to do more.

The problem was not solved by a curfew or increased police presence.

What the police say about the shootings: Short shooting in the North: Columbus police say police presence was not the problem

However, this is not just a Columbus problem. These incidents happen daily across the country. But Ohio’s loosening of gun laws puts all of its citizens at even greater risk. My generation has been tormented by this new type of fear and violence.

More deaths and injuries are inevitable if no one takes the initiative to act against this.

“It's incredibly scary to realize that you were so close to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gun violence now seems to permeate every corner of society,” says Phoebe Helms.

Nowhere do you feel safe

Safety doesn't seem to be a priority

We grew up afraid to go to school

Lina Portman

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