On the evening of Nov. 13, Paris was shocked by a series of terrorist attacks that killed approximately 129 people. The news of the attacks that included mass shootings, suicide bombings and hostage-taking have been all over social media and TV, and the residual effects have left many talking about who could be behind the events and what they mean for America.

According to CNN, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks and President Francois Hollande has declared that “France is at war.” In response to these attacks, France has bombed suspected ISIS targets in Syria and have conducted a manhunt for suspected leader of the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

English teacher Carol Spring has seen the attacks all over the media and is shocked by what has happened.

“The media was saturated,” Spring said. “Facebook, television, Twitter … everywhere one turned, the story was there, either discussing actual facts or listening to commentators endlessly pick it apart.”

In response to these attacks, Kansas governor Sam Brownback signed an executive order promising to keep Syrian refugees out of Kansas, while France is standing by their decision to allow refugees into their country.

“We must not give in to fear and scramble about putting up roadblocks for the millions of suffering people who are in need of shelter,” Spring said. “I admire the response of the French nation; they are continuing to accept all refugees as planned prior to the attacks. They are not wavering in their commitment to help.”

This upcoming summer, junior Rinny Herndon will be going on a foreign exchange trip which will include a stop in Paris. She says it’s important to not let the attacks affect their trip.

“I think the biggest thing is to not let these things our everyday lives,” Herndon said. “By changing our plans, we are letting them win. The big thing is that they want us to be living in fear; we can’t give them that.”