NEWS

Former President Carter to speak at GRCC

Page 2

FEATURES

The Collegiate Guide to LaughFest 2014

Page 8

A&E

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Page 13

SPORTS

Full 2014 Winter Olympics Coverage

Page 14

THE COLLEGIATE
G R A N D R A P I D S C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R
February 11, 2014
CAMPUS POLICE DEPT.

Vol. 58, No 4

Your school. Your source. Your story.

thecollegiatelive.com

Emergency response plan updated for Active Shooter situations

By Joshua Vissers
Editor-in-Chief Grand Rapids Community College Chief of Police Rebecca Whitman has been going from building to building this semester, presenting a revised active shooter safety plan to faculty and staff. (The community) is to a point where were realizing we cant live in a bubble, we cant sit back and think its not going to happen to us, Whitman said in a presentation to a Whitman group of faculty and staff in the Learning Resource Center on Feb. 4, during which she instructed them to share the safety information. Students and visitors are going to look to us in the event of an emergency, she said. In the past, police forces trained for barricaded gunmen situations and students were

taught to lockdown or take shelter in place. However, like GRCC police, law enforcement ofcials nationwide have been instead focusing on developing a quicker response to shooter situations, and they are teaching faculty, staff and students to run, hide or ght, depending on their circumstance. The biggest difference with the new strategy is the exibility and speed of the response. First responders are now being trained to head toward the sound of gunshots, alone if necessary, to neutralize a shooter as quickly as possible, rather than waiting outside of the building for Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams to arrive. We will bypass the victims in the search for the suspect, said Whitman about rst response teams. Their rst priority is to stop the shooter before returning to help victims. Rescue teams and emergency medical personnel will follow the initial responders. Rather than barricade doors and hide immediately, Whitman encouraged staff and students to escape the area if they can safely do so. If you are in imminent danger, get out, Whitman said. Try to nd a secure location, a safe place you can wait. If evacuating, the police department asks that students stay in proximity to the college and not try to leave the parking ramps with their cars. Trafc exiting the ramp can

CAMPUS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Put campus polices number in your cell phone.

CALL FOR HELP

(616) 234 - 4911 Locate emergency exits.

No matter who you call for help, there are a few things to remember. Always remember Remain calm Remember to Breathe Speak clearly and as calmly as possible Provide Your name, location and situation Description location and number of suspects Whether there are victims Stay on the phone until the call taker tells you to hang up

911

Campus Police
Emergency:
(616) 234 - 4911

Fire exits make good potential escape routes. Know the alternate exits to buildings and classrooms.

On GRCC campus phones:

4911 -OR- CODE 2 Non-Emergency: (616) 234 - 4010

Consider how best to barricade yourself in a safe place if it becomes necessary.

See Campus safety, page 2

NARRATIVE

A reporter from The Collegiate covers signing of 2014 Farm Bill

>> Surviving an active shooter event

In all situations, DONT PANIC, call 234-4911 (4911 on a campus phone) or 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.

RUN>HIDE>FIGHT
Run

Hide

Lock the door and turn off all the Close any interior blinds, but a clear
lights. view outside could help to communicate with emergency personnel. Silence your cell phone and any other sources of noise. Barricade doors and windows with tables and heavy furniture like filing cabinets. Hide behind large items and other furniture in the room.

If the way is clear, leave the build-

ERICA HOROKY/COLLEGIATE STAFF

President Barack Obama hopes that the farm bill will keep young farmers from feeling the need to move out of state to be successful in the agricultural field.

See page 10

ing and head to a nearby shelter to wait. Take others with you, but dont stay with them if they refuse to leave. Leave your personal belongings. Get yourself out of harms way. Keep your hands visible and follow the directions of police officers. Avoid running toward or clinging to officers. First responders will not stop to tell you where to go, they are looking for the suspect. Head in the direction they entered the building from. Dont go home without being told to by law enforcement authorities. They need to account for everyone.

Fight

As a last resort, and only if you are in

immediate danger, try to incapacitate the shooter. Have a plan and commit to your actions. Act aggressively toward the attacker. Yell or shout loudly. Throw or swing objects. Improvised weapons like fire extinguishers, chairs, even staplers and books can be used to defend yourself.

SECTIONS

News 1-5

Opinion 6

Features 7-11

A&E 12-13

Sports 14-16

Next Issue: March 18, 2014

On the Web
GRCC.Collegiate @GRCC_Collegiate GRCCCollegiate collegiate@grcc.edu

Get weekly videos The Collegiate News Update

bit.ly/collegiateYT

The DAAC looks for STAFF /COLLEGIATE Cut line Cut line Cut line Cut line Cut line new music venue in Cut line Cut line Cut line Cut line Cut line Heartside
bit.ly/newdaac

Former GRCC student Maurice Townsend competes on American Idol bit.ly/grccAI