A gun fires in a nearby classroom. Screams echo down the hallways. Within the hour, news channels shout the same disturbing headline — school shooting.

Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of Virginia Tech’s school shooting, the deadliest in U.S. history. With an increase in school shootings over the past few years, schools such as the UW are seeking new ways to identify troubled students and help them before they endanger themselves or others.

The effort, however, has suffered setbacks because the state legislature declined a portion of the UW’s budget plan, which would have added additional counseling staff. The UW has 10 full-time staff and three interns who helped 1,200 students last year.

“It’s not a major funding year,” said Eric Godfrey, vice provost for student life at the UW and part of the University’s Consultation and Assessment Team.

The team, created four months ago, was set up to provide preventative intervention and reach out to students by helping them through problems and connecting them with different resources, both on and off campus.

“Early intervention helps ensure students’ problems don’t escalate,” Godfrey said.

The team often refers students to the UW Counseling Center, located on the first floor of Schmitz Hall.

The center strives to support students in several areas. A troubled student is rarely dangerous though, said Ellen Taylor, director of the UW Counseling Center. Most students struggle with depression, anxiety or relationship problems.

If worried teachers or classmates recommend a student to the team or the center, counselors will try to interact with the student to find out what’s going on. Counselors want to get to the root of the problem before it develops further, Taylor said.

However, counseling is entirely voluntary. All sessions are confidential.

“[Counseling] is a tool in the toolkit,” said Ralph Robinson, UW assistant chief of field operations. “From the police perspective, we would like to avert a situation before it happens. If counseling helps, … that’s outstanding.”

Also, Gov.Chris Gregoire signed the Rebecca Jane Griego Bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), into law.

The bill, which was created following the murder of UW employee Griego in Gould Hall by her ex-boyfriend, allows police to have the authority to issue a protection order by mail rather than in person.

Gregoire also signed into law the Campus Safety Bill, sponsored by Kohl-Welles. In light of increased school shootings, this law requires campus safety plans for Washington’s colleges and universities.

“I work to do all I can to ensure that our schools, colleges, and universities are safe,” Kohl-Welles said.

[Reach reporter Joy Yagi at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]