In the wake of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Hillsdale College took the initiative to highlight security procedures meant to deal with a threat on the college campus.
The first indication of this examination of security procedures came only a few days after the shooting, when President Larry Arnn sent out a school-wide email, stressing the importance of preparing for such a situation.
“The college has plans to meet such a horror if it should ever come to our campus. They are as good as we can make, and still we look to improve them. Next term, we are going to be practicing those plans, as we do every year. This time we will do it more publicly to make sure as many as possible know what to do,” said Arnn, in the email.
At the start of the spring 2013 semester, all resident assistants and students with military background were invited to attend a security meeting headed up by Director of Campus Security Bill Whorley and Assistant Dean of Men Jeffery Rogers.
“We’ve been informing, training, and working with the RAs and house directors, and we’ll be holding a test of the emergency notification system,” said Whorley.
Whorley also stressed the importance of student response to potential campus threats. He encouraged students to watch a YouTube video titled “Run, Hide, Fight,” which takes viewers through what to do and not to do in an active gunman situation.
“The important thing is to try to remove yourself from the situation,” Whorley said.
Academy Headmaster Ken Calvert has been working on security plans for the K-12 school.
“Waiting for someone to shoot is not an optimal response,” Calvert said. “To be honest, I’m very frustrated with the policy in school life that says teachers need to be passive.”
Calvert’s security plan gives teachers the authority to move students to designated meeting areas outside of the school.
Calvert said that other aspects of the Academy’s security plan would be strengthened, and that he is encouraging his staff to take more proactive measures.
“I’m in charge of protecting the most vulnerable population at Hillsdale College,” Calvert said. “I have to protect the lives of 193 children, and that’s a great responsibility.”
In addition to evaluating security measures that deal with potential campus threats, Rogers is also developing a student-oriented organization with the purpose of responding to an emergency situation.
This group of 20-25 students would receive knowledge and instructions in coping with potentially-devastating scenarios, such as severe ice storms or tornadoes.
“In that kind of situation, we wouldn’t want to wait for the government, God forbid,” Rogers said. “I don’t want them coming to my college and telling me what to do. I’m of the adage that you use the resources you have.”
Rogers said that the plan for developing a student-based organization to deal with emergency situation had been in the works for a while, but that recent events like the Newtown shooting has jump-started the project.
“The more information we can equip our students with, the better,” Rogers said.
Whorley echoed similar sentiments.
“Every situation is different. Incidents like Newtown or Columbine: no two are the same. We have to be prepared to be very flexible.”
