FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When the active shooter alert came across his phone Monday, freshman Joshua Gardiner was inside a dining hall on the University of Arkansas (U of A) campus.

“Standing in the 1021 food hall having no idea what was going on and having this misinformation flying… it sparks a lot of fear within the students,” Gardiner said.

The out-of-state student described the fear as immediate and overwhelming.

“In that moment, you feel kind of helpless and there’s not much you can really do," he said. "I’m an out-of-state student, so I called my grandmother, and I said 'I’m sorry, I love you, I don’t know what’s going on right now. I don’t know if I’m safe.'"

Gardiner said his major of education made the incident hit particularly close to home.

“It kind of got me thinking... I’m i

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