BCU president speaks with Channel 9 about gun violence

BETHUNE COOKMAN, Fla. — More than a dozen students at Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach have become victims of gun violence in just the last year.
 
Channel 9 spoke with BCU President Edison Jackson, who said the school is safe and none of the shootings happened on campus.
 
Jackson told Eyewitness News he wants to dispel any misperceptions about campus security.
 
"These incidences are happening off-campus," Jackson said.

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He also pointed out that none of the shootings were by students.
 
Jackson said the school's location is a "desert," and students go off campus looking for nightlife. He said societal issues and a lack of social activities on or near campus are to blame.
 
"We have to tell our students, winners run with winners, losers with losers and what happens (are) losers want to infiltrate where our students party, have a good time," Jackson said.
 
During a 12-month period, starting in February 2015, three students were killed and 10 were wounded in four separate incidents. Those 13 students represent 30 percent of victims in Daytona Beach's gun violence.
 
"We take a far more aggressive role, where our students can go, what they can do," Jackson said.
 
Jackson said there's an effort to keep promoters of off-campus events off campus and keep people who aren't students from entering the area around BCU as well.
 
Jackson said new dorms, a new student union and hopefully new business coming to the area will help.

Cox Media Group