About two weeks ago, as Creighton students were trudging up the mall to campus, less than three miles away, Payton Benson’s chance of ever experiencing college life was taken from her.

On the morning of Jan. 16, the five-year-old was shot and killed while sitting in her house eating breakfast.  The fatal stray bullet came from a gunfight a block away from Payton’s home near the corner of 45th and Emmett streets.

Homicide reports are tough to read, but especially when the victim is one who is so young. Payton hadn’t even started school yet, and probably hadn’t learned about the high rates of gun violence in her city that added her to its list of victims.

At a press conference hours after the shooting, Payton’s mother, Tabatha Manning, used the inspiration of her daughter’s innocence when calling others to do something about the shooting.

“I would like to ask the community to help me in forgiving those who are responsible for this,” Manning said. “We need some love, everyone. This needs to the end for the safety of everyone.”

Everyone.  Manning didn’t just call on her neighbors, her family and those responsible for the shootings to work to stop the violence in north Omaha. She called on everyone.

When I first came to Omaha from Minnesota, one of my first priorities was to learn more about the Creighton community; learning about Omaha didn’t even really register on my radar. It took me until sophomore year to venture that much beyond the Old Market and Dodge Street.

It still seems odd to consider myself a resident of Omaha, even though at this point I live here for most of the year. While living in the “Creighton bubble,” I don’t hesitate to consider myself a member of the Creighton community. However, as students at Creighton, we are also just as much a part of the Omaha community—Creighton wouldn’t be Creighton if it didn’t call Omaha home.

One of the first bits of advice I received about Omaha was “don’t go to North Omaha.” Amidst all the jokes, stereotypes and actual stories of frightening situations, it was ingrained into me that I shouldn’t go north of Cuming Street.  But this neighborhood is right next door; shouldn’t we show a little neighborly love?

Opinion columnist Billy McCroy touched on this on his article in this week’s Creightonian issue—that the death of Payton Benson is not just a North Omaha problem.  I agree, but furthermore, I think that Creightonites need to realize that North Omaha’s problems are also Creighton’s problems. Not that Creighton should shoulder the problems of North Omaha’s high violence and poverty rates, but I do think that the Creighton community could take more of an interest in the North Omaha community.

On Jan. 23, during Payton’s “last party,” Payton’s father, Marvin Benson, once again pleaded for Omahans to show kindness.

“I would like all of this stupid, nonsense violence to quit. It just starts by one person doing one thing. Do little things to show people you care,” Marvin said.

It is these little things that Creighton students can do to help the North Omaha community, by donating their time to some of North Omaha’s great nonprofits, such as Girls Inc., Hope Center for Kids, the Boys & Girls Club, and Habitat for Humanity.  There are already some organizations at Creighton that lead service at these sites, but oftentimes they are frequented by students whose main passion is service.

A larger portion of Creighton students should get involved in service in North Omaha—not only does this kind of service give Creighton students the chance to meet some great people from a diverse community of Omaha, but college students are exactly the kind of positive role models that kids in the North Omaha community need. 

This burden doesn’t just fall on Creighton students, but also falls on Creighton faculty.  Departments can find ways to share their knowledge with North Omaha schoolchildren, by partnering with schools in the area to offer programming or volunteer work that students can participate in. Professors could also use case studies in applicable fields to educate students about some of the issues facing North Omaha, and what possible solutions there are.

Creighton draws students from all over the country, who have all different kinds of interests.  Our enthusiastic and involved student body can expose some of the neediest kids to activities and career paths that they might not have been introduced to. Creighton students can serve as examples to encourage kids to strive for a life outside of poverty and gang violence. Maybe then there will be fewer bullets flying in Omaha, and fewer children who never get the chance to go to school.