By Olivia Wong
When applied sciences professor Dr. Zijie Yan lost his life on August 28, 2023, the University of North Carolina was left utterly shaken. America has had 188 school shootings in the 2020-2021 school year, while Canada and France have totaled 2 since 2009. Additionally, the number of mass shootings in 2023 now stands at 470 at the end of August, which has outnumbered the prediction of 400 from statistics based on prior years. The chilling image of a student’s ball-and-stick model of methane left at a memorial site for Dr. Yan reminded students that their own labs and classrooms were the settings for the scariest moment of their lives. The reality is that any one of us could be next.
Through a first-person point-of-view video on TikTok, students at UNC report hearing an alarm and seeing an announcement on TVs in their classrooms, alerting them of an active shooter. People are seen running through campus, attempting to hide in buildings and shelter in place. A second lockdown just three weeks after the professor’s death was met with even more fear and frustration for students wanting peace and the promise of safety on their campus. A poignant poster at a recent protest for gun control read, “The Scariest Thing in a School Should be MY EXAMS.” The Daily Tar Heel, UNC’s school newspaper, even published a list of heartbreaking text messages from students to their loved ones amidst the chaos of the shooting.
“A poignant poster at a recent protest for gun control read, “The Scariest Thing in a School Should be MY EXAMS.”
The September 2022 Roxborough High School shooting hit close to home for Jefferson University’s East Falls campus, just a seven-minute drive away. Nicholas Elizalde was only 14 years old when he fell victim to yet another one of America’s shootings, this time in a schoolyard. A more recent incident affecting Jefferson University’s Center City campus involved over 100 teens looting stores on 15th and Chestnut Street, just a 13-minute walk from Scott Memorial Library. Although no shots were fired, there were two firearms recovered by the Philadelphia police as they broke up the crowds and made over 50 arrests.
Another college close to Jefferson is Temple University, which experienced a tragic loss back in February 2023 when Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald was shot and killed near their campus. The student-led news website “The Temple News” published an article about how gun violence directly affects their own population and has been a reason for students to transfer to other schools. Within the Temple University patrol zone, 26 shootings occurred in 2022. Although being robbed at gunpoint is different than a school shooting, the conversations around safety on and around college campuses has become louder and more urgent as more and more students share their tragic experiences. As K-12 and college students grapple with the reality that they may not be safe while learning at school, there is a call for policy transparency and if needed, change, to ensure safety while on campus.
Source by Thomas Jefferson University Safety and Security
Read Thomas Jefferson University's exact active shooter response plan.
Below is an email interview with the director of public safety, Stefanie Karp, regarding Thomas Jefferson University’s active shooter policies. It has been edited only for the purpose of clarity.
Q. If there was an active shooter on Jefferson University’s East Falls campus, how would students know?
Director Stefanie Karp:“Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation, Public Safety would activate our mass notification system, known as JeffALERT. The JeffALERT system is capable of alerting users via text message, email, pager, and both landline and mobile phone calls. We recently tested the JeffAlert system on Friday, September 8th at 1:30 p.m. to ensure early in the academic semester everyone received it, that the system is functioning properly and to familiarize our stakeholders with the types of messages that can be sent from JeffALERT. STUDENTS: Update your personal information in BannerWeb by following the steps listed on the Jefferson Emergency Management EOP.”
Q. What are the next steps for students and faculty?
SK: “Once a JeffALERT is issued, the campus community should follow the instructions in the Alerts.”
Q. Would buildings be shut down?
SK: “On the East Falls campus, once Public Safety confirms we have an active threat on campus, we have procedures in place to deal with different scenarios such as locking down, sheltering in place, and evacuation.”
Q. Where would we be instructed to go?
SK: “Each building on the East Falls campus has recommended location sites if the campus community needs to evacuate. These specific emergency procedures by building can be found on the Public Safety website at: https://www.jefferson.edu/east-falls/public-safety/emergency-preparedness.html. They are also noted in the active shooter drills that take place each year on campus.”
Sources by Erika Crane
From left to right: The safety and security office is located on Ravenhill side of campus, with security officers patrolling 24/7; the blue emergency lights around campus provide a sense of security for students walking around at night.
Q. Are there active shooter drills scheduled for each semester? Are they mandatory to attend?
SK: “There are mandatory active shooter drills held for the Residence Halls once per academic year. There are also active shooter drills held in various academic and business buildings, as well as continuous active shooter training in specific departments each semester. Anyone in the building during an active shooter drill is asked to participate. During the drills, participating students, staff, faculty, vendors, and guests are asked to practice hiding, which includes:
Hide out of view
Lock or barricade the door if possible
Silence cell phones and other devices
Turn off noise sources
Close patient doors and curtains
Hide behind large items
Remain quiet and calm”
Q. Are there currently armed police on campus? If not, will there be?
SK: “We have full-time security officers who patrol the campus 24/7. They can be reached at any time by calling Public Safety at 215-951-2999 or using the blue light phones on campus. The full-time Public Safety Patrol Officers are not armed at the East Falls campus, but the Jefferson enterprise is working on a plan to employ additional armed officers across locations, including East Falls.”
Q. If we don’t have armed police, how long is the police’s response time if there is an active shooter on campus?
SK: “Providing an exact timeframe for the first police presence is nearly impossible, however, an active shooter situation is of the highest priority with law enforcement agencies. The East Falls campus is located in the 39th Police District and immediately adjacent to the 5th Police District. The University has a good working relationship with both the 39th and 5th Districts, along with the police at Drexel University College of Medicine, located at 2900 West Queen Lane. We have regular meetings with local police on campus and have invited them to conduct drills here in order to familiarize them with our campus. For example, in July of 2022, Philadelphia SWAT came to campus and four Philadelphia Police Districts (5th, 35th, 39th, and 14th) completed an all-day active shooting training using Kanbar Campus Center. Additionally, over an 11-day period in December 2022 through January 2023, the Philadelphia Fire Department utilized Downs Hall to review its policies, procedures, and tactical response to a mass casualty incident.”
Q. If a student or faculty member wanted to alert someone of an active shooter on campus, what is the best mode of communication?
SK: “The best method is always to pick up a phone once you are in a safe location and call Public Safety at 215-951-2999. The more details that the caller can provide about the active shooter(s), the more information the Jefferson Communication Center Officer can relay to the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies responding to the situation. When safe, students can also use the blue light phones that are within eyesight throughout campus.”
Q. Do you think our campus and the surrounding area of East Falls is safe for students?
SK: “We are lucky to be located in a beautiful suburban residential neighborhood within East Falls, flanked by Wissahickon Valley Park. However, we always remind students to remember these tips and strategies no matter where they are.
Stay alert to your surroundings, walk with purpose, be vigilant, and scan your surroundings.
If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, take action and leave immediately. Keep your hands free.
Carrying items can make you a vulnerable target. Avoid text messaging or non-emergency cell phone use while walking alone.
Trust your instincts; if you have a bad feeling about walking outside, do not go alone!
Call Public Safety for an escort if feeling unsafe at 215-951-2999.
The best prevention is precaution:
Text a friend prior to leaving your destination and provide an estimated arrival time.
Ask your friend to notify Public Safety if you do not promptly arrive”
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