Violence erupts everywhere. In many cases, it's out of society's control. There are bad people willing to do bad things. That's the reality. The important thing is to act smart; be mindful of surroundings, look both ways before crossing the street, watch your drinks, etc.

So after two men were shot and injured on campus early Saturday morning, the important thing to remember is that we're part of a society - a relatively peaceful society, but a society of good and bad people nonetheless.

Potentially, not one person involved in the shooting is a student. Police said bad people from other communities see MSU as an "easy target." The reasons don't matter much as long as the crime is happening, except that students can rest assured that their classmates aren't the ones packing Glocks with their iPods.

Maybe the campus is an easy target because many students feel free to walk to class alone, sit in a dorm courtyard and smoke, or leave their dorm room doors open. Students leave themselves open. And isn't that how it should be? Students shouldn't live in fear, should they?

Well, not really.

When something tragic like this happens, when violence erupts, it reminds people of the darker side of society. It reminds people of their risky lifestyle choices. It prompts them to reevaluate their actions and be just a bit more cautious.

But at the same time, students should remember that these incidences are rare. They should feel free to go out late at night. They should feel safe enough to walk to class or leave their dorm room doors open. The majority of the people on campus are here to get an education, not cause a ruckus.

There will always be violence among students. During the same weekend as the shooting, a fraternity member was attacked at a party by a man wielding a beer bottle. But at that same party, students raised $3,000 for the American Red Cross to give to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Last school year, MSU faced a series of "date rape" incidents. Although the crimes should never be marginalized, the offenders should be punished and the victims never asked for what happened to them, most of these assaults were not random. They weren't caused by men in ski masks, hiding in the bushes, preying on hapless coeds. Usually they involved poor decisions by both parties. Everyone could better protect themselves in every situation.

So how does a campus respond to acts of violence without threatening its own sense of idealistic community?

Students should acknowledge the reality of the situation, make strides to be safer but still remember that violence is a rarity. Don't freak out, but don't just brush it off. Make smart decisions. Chances are it won't happen to you, but it could.

Prenursing freshman Nicole Lyon reasoned it best in Tuesday's story:

"It's weird that something that violent could happen so close to where I live. It's a bigger city, so I guess it's kind of expected."