Digital Chronicles: Students’ Responses to the Brown University Shooting

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — When a gunman opened fire in an academic building at Brown University, students didn't wait for official notifications. They began sharing information immediately through their phones, relying on messages from peers and urgent rumors that could potentially save lives.

On December 13, during finals week, the attack prompted students to turn to Sidechat, an anonymous message board widely used on college campuses, to exchange real-time information.

An analysis of nearly 8,000 posts from the 36 hours following the shooting illustrates the significant role social media plays in how students manage emergencies on campus.

Fifteen minutes prior to the university's first alert about the active shooter, students were already documenting the unfolding chaos. Their posts—raw, fragmented, and sometimes frantic—created a digital snapshot of a mass shooting experience.

As students sheltered in place, they shared updates while hiding under library tables and in classrooms. Some even posted from hospital beds, captioning their posts with the stark reminder of finals week.

Others raised urgent inquiries: Was there a lockdown? Where was the shooter? Was it safe to move?

Days later, authorities identified the suspect, linking him to a previous incident involving a professor at MIT.

Sidechat, often described as a collective consciousness of student life, typically features posts about dining hall food and exam stress. However, the content shifted dramatically on the day of the shooting.

At 4:06 p.m., as students began fleeing the Barus and Holley building, one user questioned, “Why are people running away from B&H?”

Frantic messages flooded in, with students attempting to fill the information void. By the time the university issued its alert at 4:21 p.m., the shooter had already left the campus, a detail unknown to Brown officials at the time.

As darkness fell, students barricaded doors and huddled in their dorms, reacting to every sound. Many expressed fear that they might recognize someone among the potential victims.

As law enforcement cleared campus buildings, students shared their experiences, with some unable to contact loved ones as they had left their phones behind in the rush to escape.

Amid the tension, emotions ranged from shock to heartbreak. Some students received messages from friends they hadn't spoken to in years, echoing their shared trauma from previous incidents.

As hours passed, basic needs became a concern. Students described extreme anxiety, with some resorting to using trash cans due to fear of leaving their rooms.

Acts of kindness emerged amidst the chaos, with students sharing food and support. They sought verified information, often challenging each other to confirm the accuracy of posts before sharing.

Despite the urgency, reliable information was slow to arrive, and incorrect claims about the shooter's status circulated, heightening anxiety.

When the lockdown ended, students were met with a transformed campus, blanketed in snow—an unsettling reminder of the day’s events. Many mourned not just the loss of life but the innocence of their college experience.

In the aftermath, as students reflected on their experiences, many expressed that Brown would never feel the same again.

“Snow will always be bloody for me,” one student poignantly remarked.