|
by PHILLIP WYATT
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
If someone with a gun barged into a classroom, residence hall or office and started shooting, what could be done?
Appalachian State University Police are challenging students and faculty to seek the answer to this question.
On March 3, 2008, then-senior English major Matthew W. Haney
fabricated the story that a gunman entered his apartment and headed
toward campus.
A student reported an individual that matched the description of the suspect and a lockdown was initiated.
Junior creative writing major Abraham Leonard is thankful for
the AppState Alert System for its continual updates during that day.
“I felt extremely safe,” Leonard said. “It really made me feel connected to campus security.”
In the event a gunman arrives on campus, Tina Dunn, patrol officer for
University Police, said "notifying everybody that needs to be" is the
first step taken.
"We’re
going to call in extra enforcement, we’re going to notify the local
area offices, Boone Police Department and Watauga, get everybody that
we can, and try to get as much information out to the students and
faculty that we can," she said.
Dunn encourages students to listen to the sirens activated during an emergency.
Students should also read updates and news sent via the AppState Alert System.
“Protocol is always going to be changing depending on every
incident because not one incident is going to be exactly the same," she
said. "We’re going to learn from every action that happens, look at it,
and change protocol. It’s going to be a learning experience each and
every time because you can’t predict the perfect scenario.”
In case of an actual shooting, evacuate and leave all belongings behind.
Once in a safe environment, dial 911.
If unable to evacuate, hide and avoid drawing attention.
If hiding is not an option or if the shooter enters the hiding place, be prepared to "take out" the shooter.
If there are two or more people able to challenge the shooter,
make a plan and be prepared to do whatever it takes to survive,
according to University Police.
“Shots Fired: When Lightning Strikes,” a series of
presentations featuring campus shootings, is one of many events offered
during Safety Week.
Ending Friday, the series features a 22-minute
video and is an “awareness program to make yourself more aware of your
surroundings and your options in case there is an actual shooter that
comes into a building or a room that you’re in,” Detective K.C.
Mitchell, training coordinator for University Police, said. “It’s a
basis to develop a survival mindset and a plan.”
The video provides a course of action in case of an active shooter.
After the video, training and a Q-and-A session is led by University Police.
Students and faculty who missed any “Shots Fired” presentations still have an opportunity to attend.
A
showing will take place today at 1 p.m. in the Attic Window Room of
Plemmons Student Union and a final viewing will take place at 1 p.m.
Friday in Roan Mountain Room, also in the Plemmons Student Union.
The final viewing is limited to students.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments