By Stephanie Goodhue
Oct. 15, Volume 47 Issue 1

Oct. 1 marked another day in history that students are reminded of the severity and impermanence of events. At Umpqua Community College in Oregon, there was a mass school shooting where nine lives were taken and a dozen others were wounded.

 President Obama addressed the public after the Umpqua Community College Shooting saying, “[We are] the only advanced country on earth that sees these kinds of mass shootings every few months.”

Four days later, there was a threat made against two students at Spokane Community College by California resident William Ringer. Security took action immediately.

With these threats and school shootings happening more and more frequently, students and faculty members have a plan in place in case something were to happen like this on our campus.

“There really is not anything specific to look for because of the fact that we have the freedom of speech in our country, but there is a difference between an actual threat with an intent to hurt someone,” DeMello said.

“[If something were to ever happen like this on our campus,] run,” DeMello said. “Get the heck out of dodge.”

In the event that someone were to start shooting up our campus students should seek emergency services first.

“When in doubt call 9-1-1, not campus security because the 9-1-1 call center will immediately contact our school security and fill them in on the situation,” DeMello said. “This way there is already emergency response en route.”

He also advises that students seek shelter in an emergency situation.

“Hide or barricade yourself in a classroom or a closet,” DeMello said. “Fight, If you cannot run and cannot hide then it’s a matter of life and death you fight for your life.”

According to the Community Colleges of Spokane Emergency Management Plan, usually located by the classroom entrance, (grey in color) has a variety of different scenarios of emergencies and how we respond to them.

In this pamphlet it clearly outlines the steps necessary to take:

In case of a threat:

• Always treat threats or rumors of violence as serious.
• Call 9-1-1 if it at all involves a weapon of sorts

In case of shelter-in-place:

• Close all doors and windows unless instructed otherwise.
• Move the masses away from the doors and windows as a general rule.
• Remain in the area until directed otherwise by college or other authorities