"I think we're hoping and praying that nothing like that happens on campus," Samone Dobson said.
Dobson is a student at NC Central, where the university made changes to its homecoming this year in the wake of two separate shooting incidents during homecoming last year, when four people were injured, including a student.
"I remember being in the Greek Bowl ... you could see groups of people leaving," Raheem Solomon-Meekins said. "But I feel like I'm still going to have a good freshman year and a good first homecoming as a freshman at this institution."
Some of the changes to NC Central's homecoming this year include an early campus closure on homecoming weekend, celebrations concluding by 6:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and no visitor parking allowed.
"I'm a little sad," Dobson said. "I wanted the full homecoming experience, especially since it's my first year, but I understand where they're coming from and just wanting to keep the students safe on campus."
Dobson also shared how she feels navigating college amid increased concerns about the security on college campuses following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Threats following the shooting have also prompted some HBCU's nationwide to increase security measures.
"I think it is a little hard for people to feel say what they're feeling," Dobson said. "Especially with the introduction of technology and everybody being able to record in person."