New Developments a Week After Homecoming Shooting

Students are continuing to protest the lack of an IU Notify Alert after an incident occurred homecoming weekend, almost two weeks ago.

One of the two victims in the shooting has been identified as Sharakis Jones. She is an IU freshman attending school on a full-ride scholarship. According to the Indiana Daily Student, Jones will not be returning to school this semester and it is unclear if she will ever return to IU.

A petition on Change.org has now gathered over 3,000 signatures demanding two changes to take action. One is to have IU re-assesses their protocol of sending out IU Notify Alerts for off campus incidents. The second is justice for the tenants of  the 422 S. Grant St. property. The house is commonly known as “The Brickhouse,” and is owned by IU. The petition was delivered to the Dean of Student Affairs last Friday.

The Brickhouse is described in the petition as a DIY music venue, and various artists would perform shows there. According to IU senior and tenant, Grant Mitchell, donations would be collected at the door to support the various artists. However, one of IU’s reasoning for termination of the lease is operating a business at the property.

IU spokesperson Chuck Carney says IU was unaware of these events that frequently occurred, and if they were known action would have been taken sooner. However, the Change.org petition claims the Brickhouse has been operating for, “well beyond a decade.”

No changes have been announced in terms of the IU Notify Alert system. Carney has said that the protocol is being reevaluated, as it always is if an alert is sent out or not.