When students at UNLV return to classes at Frank and Estella Beam Hall in two weeks, they will find the building looking much the same as it did last December. The hall had been closed following a shooting incident that tragically claimed the lives of three professors and severely injured another. The university has been working diligently to remove all physical traces of the incident and to create a sense of comfort and safety for students, faculty, and staff inside the building, as stated by Musa Pam, associate vice president of facilities management, during a recent press conference, marking the first time the building had been reopened to the public since the shooting.

This fall, approximately 160 classes will be held in Beam Hall, which is half the usual number. Each class scheduled there will also be offered in another campus building to accommodate students who may still feel uneasy about returning to Beam Hall. Safety upgrades at Beam Hall have been overseen by Arnold Vasquez, interim director of University Police Services, Southern Command, and Musa Pam in preparation for the upcoming semester. Some of the enhancements include the installation of surveillance cameras outside elevators on all floors, improved telephones with emergency notification features, and armed security officers stationed on the first and second floors. Access to the third, fourth, and fifth floors, where faculty offices are located, will now be restricted to those with access cards or keys, using stairwells or elevators.

The university has allocated around $2.5 million for repairs and security improvements, including at Beam Hall, and an additional $1 million to enhance lighting across the campus. Furthermore, the Nevada System of Higher Education is utilizing $2.6 million in grant funding for security enhancements system-wide, including private security officers at Beam Hall. UNLV President Keith Whitfield intends to request $38 million in funding for additional security improvements from the Legislature in 2025. Despite these efforts, Whitfield admitted that even if such safety measures had been in place before the incident, they might not have prevented the shooting.

While there were suggestions to close off the campus to visitors following the shooting, Whitfield believes this is impractical for an urban research institution like UNLV. He emphasized that the recent upgrades and security measures are aimed at providing students and staff with a sense of peace as they prepare for the new semester. Whitfield expressed hope that students can still feel safe on campus, pursue their academic goals, and ultimately achieve their aspirations. Arnold Vasquez encouraged individuals to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement, emphasizing that their priority is to ensure safety and address any concerns promptly.