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The Harvard Alert read: “Transit Police are reporting shots fired.” To be specific, a man seemingly fired four to five shots in the direction of a single person.

As a student from Memphis, I regarded the announcement as relatively minor news.

For many at Harvard, it was anything but. Unfortunately, in America more broadly, safety is a privilege, not a right. As Trump attacks our University in part for alleged elitism, it’s important to remember why these criticisms have persuasive power: Harvard students enjoy advantages that many Americans do not. Our privilege can make us seem soft — legitimizing the use of language calling us “snowflakes.” In order to withstand such criticisms, we must make an active effort to understand and bridge the gap.

I come from Memphis, Tennessee. For those unfamiliar, my city is ranked second in the country for violent crime rate. I routinely hear gunshots through the night, have my car broken into, and see news of murders close to my house. Those familiar probably avoided staying in Memphis on their way to the much prettier (and safer) Nashville.

While discussing Harvard University Police Department’s response to the shooting, some of my peers have connected Sunday’s shooting to a larger conversation about gun violence near university campuses. The Crimson’s own Editorial Board mentioned the recent tragedies at Florida State University and Michigan State University.

The manner by which students discuss these events overlooks their incomparability: mass shootings are vastly different in scope and impact to the event that occurred on the T. I’m not proud of it, but I caught myself judging these students in the same manner as those on the political right: as overly sensitive snowflakes.

As a Memphian, gun violence is simply a part of my life — I witnessed my community grieve the kidnapping and murder of a teacher at my school. For me, that was just another day in my city. In the recent incident at the T’s case, my instincts said we should just be glad no one got hurt and move on.

I should be happy my peers were rattled at the thought of violence on their doorstep — that means much of the community is used to safety in their homes, far away from gun violence. Instead, I feel some jealousy — I wish I’d never faced gun violence.

When Harvard is the focus of bad press, it’s all the more important that we bear this thought process in mind. Many people do not have the privileges afforded to the average Harvard student. The right thinks we are snowflakes. Sometimes, they have a point.

We are privileged to experience a safe school environment in a city that prioritizes gun control. This is good. But this is not the larger American experience. More than half of Americans deal with gun violence in their personal lives. One in six said that they “personally witnessed a shooting.” These numbers stretch far and wide, but are especially relevant in the South due to very few gun restriction laws.

When I asked my own sister about Harvard’s response, she answered simply: “I would say that as a Memphian living in New Orleans, I definitely do not pay attention to non-lethal, small-scale shootings.” My sister is certainly not in the camp that hates Harvard. However, it was clear to both of us why people who grew up in the South would be quick to dismiss Harvard kids as exceptionally privileged.

I am not justifying the attacks on Harvard. Rather, I am hoping to shed light on the motivations behind them. We have nice dorms, can walk around safely at night, and are surrounded by clubs that will send you across the country for spring-break flings — we are living in the proverbial penthouse. Those in the lower floors don’t trust us to make good decisions. It’s not just that they feel misunderstood. They’ve watched a system work for us while failing them, and we haven’t always shown we’re listening.

I’m glad that many people in the Harvard community have a different experience of gun violence than me. It's important, however, to recognize that much of the backlash we face is because we are living a life that most Americans could never dream of. We have to consider those outside the bubble and try to connect with our larger community.

Much of the rural right doesn’t know us; they don’t know the diversity of perspective here. They only know the polished image of us living the dream. While we, rightfully, push back against the obvious lies being thrown at Harvard, we must be careful to orient our perspectives and understand that many of those who hate Harvard aren’t slinging insults because they’re crooked fascists.

I’m glad we’re snowflakes. I wish everyone had the chance to be one. That’s why it matters that we keep working for real change — even in a political climate that’s turning against us — so more people can know the privilege of safety.

L.A. Karnes, a Crimson Editorial comper, lives in Weld Hall.