A group of D.C. area colleges and universities are joining together to research ways to reduce gun violence. This coalition of schools, called the 120 Initiative, will explore topics such as social economic issues, impacts of technology, and interactions between law and society.

“There are many jobs on this campus focused on students thriving, and ours in Dearborn Support is focused on students surviving,” said Dearborn Support Coordinator Maddie Drury. “Dearborn Support advances student success by assisting students as they navigate life’s obstacles, connecting students with resources on and off campus, and helping ensure that student basic needs are met.”

Threat assessment has become an increasingly vital task during the past two decades at colleges and universities across the country. Teams of internal experts field tips, sift through evidence, and conduct quiet investigations to determine whether a student or an employee could turn violent, or would benefit from help. Almost always, the cases they monitor remain hidden from public view — unless calamity strikes.

After convening last March, the task force’s work led it to eight key recommendations, which will be used to help inform both immediate and long-term solutions to help combat gun violence in the Philadelphia region.