In the wake of another school shooting, STLCC administrators offer life-saving strategies
BY : Melissa Wilkinson
Editor-in-Chief
Eight days after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Chancellor Jeff Pittman issued a statement reflecting on the tragedy. The email promised that the safety of campus inhabitants is STLCC’s number one priority and that more information regarding emergency training would be issued in the coming week.
On March 4, the STLCC community received an email from Alfred J. Adkins, Interim Director of Public Safety detailing what to do in the event of an active shooter situation. Adkins also stated that, although law enforcement and emergency response teams are already prepared for any situation that may arise, it’s important that students, faculty and staff also receive proper training.
“We’re going to take it a step further and involve the student body and faculty and staff in the training,” said Adkins.
The email provided no specific dates, saying that the training will occur in the “near future.” According to Adkins, the training has been in the works since long before Stoneman Douglas. Chancellor Pittman said that active shooter drills are already conducted across STLCC campuses, with timings intended to reach as many students as possible.
“Normally they have the drills at different times during the day. That may be something that’s evolving,” said Pittman.
According to Adkins, for those who aren’t in class during active shooter drills, the information is available online.
“You can see information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Department of Homeland Security. Or you can go online right now and see what other universities have done,” said Adkins. “They all sort of funnel to the same thing: run, hide, fight.”
Adkins also said that his team is testing out new mobile metal detectors, one of which was used at the Feb. 22 Board of Trustees meeting. If the machine does well, he will consider obtaining more for use on each STLCC campus.
From Adkins’ email, here are the steps to take during an active shooter situation.
RUN: If you think you can make it, run out of the building. Do not run in a straight line and keep large objects between you and the shooter to keep yourself out of the line of fire. Warn others if you can. When safe, call 911 and be prepared to describe the shooter or shooters, their location and weapons.
HIDE: If you can’t run, get out of the shooter’s line of vision and be very quiet. Silence your electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate. Lock and block doors, close blinds and turn off lights. Stay in place until law officials give you further instructions. Remain calm.
FIGHT: If your life is in danger and there is no escape, use objects in the area to throw at or strike the shooter. Overwhelm the shooter by having many people attack at once.
If you see something, say something. For more information, contact Alfred. J. Adkins at 314-539-5266, or Lieutenant Adis Becirovic, Emergency Response Training Coordinator, at 314-644-9783.
