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Littleton's on Chico's mind Students take lead with ideas on how to make sure tragic shooting rampage in Colorado won't happen here

In Chico schools, students are taking the lead in learning from last week's tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

At the junior high and high schools, young people are coming up with answers to the question: what can we do to keep what happened there from happening here?

“It's had a big effect on kids. No one in their right mind wants that to happen,” said junior Adam Smith, Pleasant Valley High School student body president.

A week after the tragedy, Adam and other student leaders said the Littleton shooting has created new awareness about factors that can contribute to school violence, such as alienation and isolation.

“It has kids on their feet at Bidwell,” said 8th grader Brad Parks, student president at Bidwell Junior High School.

“Everyone's kinda jumpy, everyone's talking about it. If someone's having problems, I think their friends would go talk to a counselor about it.”

Adam agreed, saying the Columbine shooting will motivate teens to seek adult guidance more quickly when there are rumors on campus about someone carrying a weapon or a grudge.

Administrators at both PV and Chico High report there's been a noticeable increase in the number of students who've come forward with concerns about potential problems.

“I've noticed students are much more forthcoming,” said Chico High School Principal Roger Williams. “Kids are sharing things and parents are sharing things, and that definitely is in direct relationship to the Littleton situation. …

— Enterprise Record,

April 29, 1999