EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM PUT TO THE TEST

BEN DEARINGER
PRIDE STAFF WRITER

Columbine, Virginia Tech and University of Texas are all schools that are notoriously known for school shootings and will forever be remembered. On Nov. 4, 2010, students thought that California State University San Marcos was going to be added to that infamous list after the emergency response system was sounded and the campus was swarming with policemen in just minutes. With a lockdown in effect and students unaware of what was happening, all judgments were made based on rumors floating around different social media sites.

Ending up just being a class play that a student oversaw and perceived as a threat, the CSUSM campus got to see first hand what happens when the emergency response protocol takes effect. “Students must always recognize the emergency system and react as if it is a real emergency every time, no exceptions,” Bruce Bradley said, occupational safety and environmental health specialist for CSUSM.

Bradley recommends all students be prepared for any possible threat on campus and follow all directions provided by faculty and emergency personnel. He stated that “it is very important for people to develop two mindsets in these days of “unthinkable potential” events; get prepared and stay prepared and always think you will survive no matter the circumstances, being tough mentally is as important as being physically fit to be able to perform well in emergencies.”

When asked about his reaction to learning that the campus threat was false, Bradley responded, “At first I was thankful that no one was hurt, followed by, what were they thinking, endangering people with a clear knowledge of the potential consequences is juvenile thinking.”

Since that incident, there have been three additional situations where fake or simulated firearms have been brought onto our campus. While none of the other three incidents resulted in a full scale response, all such incidents have the potential to endanger our campus community stated a recent press release from the campus Office of Commumication.

“Bringing a weapon, even a toy weapon, to campus is a violation of university policy. University Police should always be notified if an unusual activity is planned that may be a cause for concern,” President Karen Haynes said.