On March 26 at 6:13 a.m., Western Division officers of the Greensboro Police Department answered a call about a stabbing victim bleeding at a Circle K store on New Garden Road.

The 20-year-old man was slashed at after a bonfire on Guilford’s campus at approximately 4:30 a.m. by a man whose name was not released to the media.

Given the wait of almost two hours before the call to authorities, the wound was not severe. However, the knife-wielder was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. According to Director of Public Safety Ron Stowe, the assailant has an extensive criminal history and is a registered sex offender.

Neither man is a Guilford student. The troubling news puts the college in an awkward position.

Should security be increased or a fence erected when Guilford has to raise tuition for normal expenses? We see how pointless a fence has been on the Mexico/U.S. border.

In addition to the March 26 stabbing, another Guilford student was mugged and stabbed on April 8. Two random stabbings in two weeks must mean something. Was it a copycat crime? I hope this is not the beginning of a crime wave.

A mysterious man apparently lives in Milner Hall and does not attend the school. Someone lets him in the building, bypassing the card-swiping machine.

It is a creepy story. He squats in Milner with occasional sightings by students. Regardless of his intentions, a non-student infiltrating the dorms sets an unusual precedent. Be mindful of who you hold the door open for.

The Public Safety officers are doing a tremendous job, as violence seems like it should be more common in a city like Greensboro. Virginia Commonwealth University is located in Richmond, Va. Horror stories come from VCU often, most notably violence against women. An attempted rape was thwarted on March 28 near VCU’s campus.

A little paranoia is not a bad thing, however, as being on the lookout boosts campus safety. Massive paranoia and undertaking excessive building projects Guilford cannot afford should be avoided.

Carrying Mace won’t hurt you if aimed correctly. And do not underestimate the power of a scream. Even the most deranged person will stop to think once their plans are no longer a secret.

It is unknown what Audrey Yefimov, the first victim, and his assailant were doing on the campus. They separately heard of a party on campus. They probably were looking for fun, but for some people a night is not complete without a fight.

Other than canceling bonfires and locking down the campus, the only way to keep unsavory characters away is to have bouncers, which seems excessive.

Guilford students should use their sense of community for an informal community watch. If we watch out for each other, the violence can stay outside of the campus.

The attack could have been even worse if a gun was used. Since the attacker used a knife, there was no collateral damage. If a gun was fired, then stray bullets could have sprayed anywhere.

The attacker stabbed Yefimov up close, making the crime more personal. Guilford was most likely an unplanned choice of venue. It could have happened anywhere to anyone. Catching this guy saved lives because they always attack again.

All these silver linings show that Guilford students can still trust each other to not commit violence. Outside agitators should not upset a sense of fun at a bonfire. Be wary of shady characters and let the Public Safety officers keep up the good work.