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Earlier today, Wanda, Travis, Anna and I attended a session offered through the PDC entitled “Shots Fired On Campus”. It was an engaging discussion, lead by Sergeant Lesia Finney of Campus Police to a packed room of about 35 people from all over campus. During the meeting, we also watched the video of the same name. It is available for viewing on campus from their website, http://police.wfu.edu/information/videos/. Lesia talked about the need for a Survivor’s Mindset and having a well thought out plan in place for how you will react in a situation with a shooter on campus. She also said that being involved in this kind of situation is as rare as being struck by lightning, but as the video says, every one knows in a lightning storm not to stand next to a metal pole. This was not meant to cause fear, but to cause preparedness.

After the video, (well worth the 20 minute investment), we had some q&a where it was further revealed that IF we have shooter on campus but they are not in the immediate vicinity of the library, we should shelter in place and not leave. The university will “lockdown” the campus which means that the Deacon OneCard office will engage all of the mag locks on doors and no one will be able to get in to any building with such a lock. We have them everywhere we need a key card to enter, (front door, grad side door, and Starbucks door.) The atrium doors don’t open from the outside, and one needs a key to get into the staff door so a shooter couldn’t get in unless we let them in.

Other safety ideas that were discussed include:

Putting an emergency contact in your cell phone under the name “ICE” which stands for “in case of emergency” enables police to contact your emergency contact if you are not able to.

Reminder to register your cell phone on Wake Alert

Think in advance what you might do in case of fire, or in case of an intruder in the night

Identify escape routes in theaters, in restaurants, etc.

We will be contacting campus police to have them come and walk through our building so we can identify elements specific to this building into our emergency plan. The session was worthwhile, and did jangle the nerves a bit, but it is better to be prepared than not in any case.