In a sobering turn of events, the Czech Republic witnessed its deadliest mass shooting to date on Dec. 21, 2023, unfolding on the campus of Charles University, a partner institution of NC State European Center in Prague. Located a mere mile from where NC State students had been attending classes weeks prior, the incident has prompted a comprehensive review of safety protocols by the NC State Study Abroad office.
Charles University, educating approximately one-sixth of Czech students, is one of the four Prague-based universities in collaboration with NC State Prague. Although most NC State students had concluded their programs at the time of the shooting, a few students and their families remained in Prague, all of whom were unharmed.
Kimberly Strozewski, the director of NC State Prague, emphasized that despite the incident occurring when classes were not in session, NC State Prague staff promptly informed students and families in the vicinity about the situation.
Julia Law, director of the NC State Study Abroad office, revealed that both her office and NC State Prague are actively enhancing safety measures. While acknowledging the robust existing protocols, Law highlighted the ongoing reviews, citing the unique challenges of coordinating across time zones and locations.
Law affirmed, “[Safety protocols] might look a little bit different because we’re coordinating across time zones and locations, but [we have] on-site partners in all of the locations where we’re sending students. [They] have infrastructure and risk management and risk mitigation processes [in] addition to emergency response plans for individual programs where students are studying.”
The Study Abroad office, in collaboration with various agencies, maintains a comprehensive safety plan that facilitates communication with students and offices abroad. The recent shooting has prompted a thorough review of these plans.
Law reassured, “I haven’t seen that there are other indicators that would cause an increased level of concern. The safety [and] security networks that we utilize—the U.S. State Department, [a] private security agency, our partner institutions abroad, the U.S. Embassy—they try and have a good, well-rounded assessment of the situation. And so I’m not seeing anything that indicates that there’s a trend of change right now.”
While the Czech Republic is known for relatively lax gun laws within the European Union, mass shootings are infrequent. The recent incident at Charles University marks the third mass shooting in the country over the past nine years. In comparison to the United States, the Czech Republic reports significantly lower gun violence rates.
To legally obtain a firearm in the Czech Republic, individuals must pass a test, undergo a background check, and obtain health clearance. However, the Charles University shooter had legally owned multiple firearms, raising questions about the efficacy of existing regulations.
Despite the rarity of such incidents, the Czech Republic is contemplating new gun legislation in response to the shooting.
Both the Study Abroad office and NC State Prague continue to encourage students to pursue opportunities for personal and academic growth abroad. Julia Law emphasized a cautious yet intentional approach to navigating potential risks, asserting, “I think that life has its risks and its rewards, and we want to be careful and diligent about how we’re moving forward in life, but not from a place of fear, … from a place of intentional academic and personal growth.”
Strozewski echoed this sentiment, affirming that NC State Prague perceives the tragic event at Charles University as an isolated incident, not indicative of broader threats to the safety and well-being of study abroad students in the country. She added, “I think the students feel safer here than in the U.S., just because there’s very low [crime]. People don’t carry weapons here normally. Students are surprised to hear that it is actually safe to walk around at night. There isn’t crime here on the streets. There [aren’t] shootings.”
