That night.

I was talking to a friend on the phone when the call was interrupted by another. It was a friend, who asked me if I was alright. I was. The system worked. I received the notice just as I was leaving my room.

I'm okay, I said, I'm in my room, with my door locked and windows closed. Just as the notice prescribed.

But he had another motive for asking me. His girlfriend's phone battery died, right after she received a text from a mutual friend. The mutual friend had been outside when this happened. He was locked out. And he didn't know where to go.

So, is there a way to reconcile the desire to keep threats out of the buildings and the desire to ensure the safety of all students?