Campaign to Stem
Societal Violence

History

Enough is Enough is a critical collaboration designed to create a new paradigm for peace and safety on the nation's campuses -- elementary through postsecondary -- by addressing the societal violence that has contributed to unprecedented violence in some of the very places our students should feel most safe.

Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes delivering closing keynote speech at 2008 NASPA Annual Conference (view video / read excerpts)

At the 2008 NASPA Annual Conference, Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, vice president of student affairs at Virginia Tech, told those in attendance what happened and what was learned through the tragedy on her campus, as well as what she thought those of us in student affairs needed to do to chart a course for the future. Dr. Hikes reminded us that none are immune to terror, and that we must all prepare for the unimaginable. Declaring, "Enough is Enough," Dr. Hikes called on us to act with a "fierce urgency" and stem the tide of societal violence before students reach our nation's campuses.

While NASPA had already taken action within its own membership population through the publication of In Search of Safer Communities and a special edition of Leadership Exchange, the "Enough is Enough" Campaign is the next step, seeking to broaden the scope in addressing the most pressing issue for all levels of education today -- the rising societal violence that results in school and campus tragedies.

Out of a day-long meeting of the campaign's initial partners, three main areas of focus emerged: a nationwide prevention and intervention campaign; legislative efforts; and the provision of resources.

The "Enough is Enough" Campaign will include administrators, educators, and counselors from secondary schools and institutions of postsecondary education, as well as parents and students. The kind of violence that results in campus tragedies begins -- and therefore must be addressed -- long before it reaches our schools and campuses.

Of particular importance are the efforts the "Enough is Enough" Campaign will make to create vital linkages to those beyond student affairs and the postsecondary education community who have a critical role to play in stemming the tide of violence.