A crisis preparedness and response seminar will be held for students from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on tuesday and from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Rose Theatre.
The University of Memphis wants students to be prepared if there is an active shooter or any other threat on campus, said Bruce Harber, the assistant vice president for administration and director of public safety.
“An active shooter is just one type of mass violence,” said Bruce Harber, the assistant vice president for administration and director of public safety. “We’ve gotten quite a few email inquiries from students and faculty about how they can protect themselves in any situation involving mass violence.”
University of Memphis faculty had a similar session earlier this month.
“It was very well received,” Harber said.
The seminar for students will include an update by the FBI on national incidents involving mass violence, what to do in the case of active shooter on campus in a classroom or auditorium and will explain the Department of Homeland Security’s “Run-Hide-Fight” protocol.
The seminar will also teach students how to deal with other forms of mass violence as well as mass shootings.
“The better educated everyone is the better we are prepared as a campus to handle any event,” Harber said.
A speaker from the FBI will teach students the importance of having a survival mindset no matter where they are because an act of mass violence can occur anywhere.
The Aurora movie theater shooting in Colorado and the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina are examples of how an act of mass violence can happen anywhere. At the seminar, students will be encouraged to create their own personal plans in case they happen to fall victim to a shooting or other threat.
The University of Memphis has different forms of communication to inform students of a possible threat. Students are encouraged to sign up for Tiger Text, an emergency alert text messaging service. Students receive texts for University closing due to inclement weather or in the event of an on campus emergency.
“It’s scary because it can be the person that you least expect in your classroom,” said Carlton Hubbard, a junior sports science major. “It can happen anywhere.”
