It was the early morning of September 1st when TCU Junior, Wes Smith was fatally shot outside of a bar on West Seventh Street. The tragedy impacted many on campus and students began to question the safety of the most popular bar district in the city. 

“The campus was confused at first. There were so many rumors, no one knew what to believe, but when it was confirmed, I just felt sad and scared,” said senior Matthew Mays.

The shift in where students go on their weekend nights has led to a lot safer conditions for students. West Seventh has been subject to shootings, stabbings and many fights constantly for years now. 

“Students can’t have fun if they don’t feel safe,” said senior Wills Black. “For all three years I have been here, West Seventh has been subject to fights in the streets every night, gunshots ringing off and violence.”

The risk was always in the back of students’ minds. But losing Smith was enough to make a change.

“It was always in the back of your mind going out and now with students staying closer to campus at bars like Rusty Nickel, students are able to have more stress-free fun,” he added. 

With fewer students going to West Seventh, the bars closer to campus have seen a steep incline in students on the weekends with lines out the door.

“It was easy to put yourself in those shoes and students cared more about safety than having fun at the usual spots,” Luke Rooney, a junior, said. “A lot more students are staying closer to campus to go out. Poop Deck, Jon’s Grill, and the Rusty Nickel are close by and getting more popular.” 

Jon’s Grill, a restaurant in Fort Worth located on Berry Street right next to TCU has even opened their doors Thursday nights for “college night” where, after 10 p.m., drink prices are cheap and they don’t close until 2 a.m.

The change in students’ weekend routines was sudden but has led to many students feeling more secure.