By Emily Costantino
The mass shooting at Michigan State University (MSU) on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, left college students across America shocked and concerned for their safety.
The gunman, who appeared to have no connections to the university, opened fire killing three students and injuring five others. Upon notification of the attack, the MSU Police issued a mass text message to the entirety of campus and surrounding communities calling for a shelter-in-place. Later that evening, the gunman, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, was found dead due to self-inflicted gunshot wounds. After a careful search, police found a note on McRae detailing his plans to attack two public schools in Ewing, New Jersey.
This event raises many questions among Susquehanna students regarding their safety. Specifically, what are the campus policies regarding shootings?
“The first priority is student safety,” says Kris Brown, Assistant Director of Campus Safety.
Although Brown explained that each emergency is viewed on a case-by-case basis, there are some consistencies regarding procedure. First, upon the confirmation of an active shooter, Campus Safety will immediately inform Selinsgrove Police, Pennsylvania State Police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the situation. Then, any campus emergency phone calls will be rerouted to the 911 Call Center. Similar to MSU’s response, Susquehanna can issue a mass text and email to inform students of any emergencies. Additionally, if necessary, there are buttons within the Campus Safety Office that can lockdown the entirety of campus or just the Degenstein Campus Center.
Brown wants the Susquehanna Community to be as ready as possible for any emergency.
“While we always hope that this will never happen here, sometimes having that kind of mindset can also deter from our readiness and preparedness,” says Brown. “I think we as campus safety, want to make sure that everybody is not only safe, but also that they’re prepared for what that might look like.”
This preparedness manifests itself in the constant testing of emergency procedures like fire alarm drills and practicing emergency alerts, while also complying with the requirements of the Clery Report to review emergency plans on at least a yearly basis.
Although Susquehanna has plans in place, students still remain uneasy following the shooting at Michigan State.