Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: News

The University Police Department gave an "Active Shooter Notification and Response Options" presentation to teach students, faculty and staff what to do in case there is ever an active shooter incident on campus.

Chief Ken Barnett repeatedly let attendees know that the point of the presentation was not to scare people, but for the campus to be prepared for anything.

"Although the chances of something like this happening at Sac State are minimal, we still want everyone to be prepared so we're not caught off guard if anything happens," Barnett said.

Accompanying Barnett in the presentation was Douglas Adams from the Employee Assistance Program, Tony Lucas, director of Administrative Services in Public Safety and corporal Greg Revelez.

Ed Alston, library staff member, attended the meeting and said it was a great presentation.

"I feel that we as a university are very prepared in case anything like this ever happens", Alston said.

Lucas talked about the Emergency Notification System and what role it plays in situations such as an active shooter case.

"With the ENS, the entire campus can be notified if something dangerous is happening on campus," Lucas said.

Since the ENS is fairly new, Lucas also said that he would like to see more of the campus community sign up for it and be ready.

"We want you to opt in," Lucas said.

Tips to remember in the case of an active shooter incident:
• Most active shooter incidents are over in eight minutes or less
• Expect mass chaos, confusion and mayhem
• Have a survival mentality and formulate a survival plan to fill the possible eight minutes
• Look around your environment and think of things you can do in your situation
• Ask yourself the "What if" questions and plan to survive the worst

The Survival Mindset:
• Awareness
• Preparation
• Rehearsal
• Real gun shots sound artificial to people sometimes, so don't expect the romanticized gun shot sounds from movies
• Take rapid actions
• Be mindful, not fearful
• Notice the exits in the room and have them in mind
• Look at the environment through the lens of survival
• Pay attention to everything and don't panic
• Leave your belongings behind
• If you can, call the authorities and don't assume someone else is calling
• If you can't get out of the room you're in, find a place to hideout and ways to keep out the shooter
• If you are in a group, spread out and don't stay together
• Help the injured
• Always stay in motion, find protection
• Convince yourself you have what it takes to survive
• Have single-mindedness of purpose to survive

When police arrive:
• Be prepared to fully inform them of what you know
• Do not yell or point at police or go running at them
• Raise your hands and show the police that you are a victim (They don't know who is who)

Follow A.L.I.C.E.
• Alert: Get the word out
• Lockdown: Find shelter and safety
• Inform: Notify the Police
• Counter: Distract, confuse, gain control
• Evacuate: Leave campus if you can

Make your actions not fall in line with the active shooter's expectations
• Turn chaos into advantage
• Throw objects at his/her face
• Play dead, run or hide
• Use an attack option
• Swarm him/her, throw books, weapons or anything available
• If in a group, each person take a limb and hold them down
• Act as a team and without hesitation
• Have a plan, work your plan and take charge

Andres Cuevas can be reached at acuevas@statehornet.com

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