ASU Students Produce Active Shooter Preparedness Video

ASU Students Produce Active Shooter Preparedness Video

“That’s the message in this video,” said Becky Garcia, ASU Police crime prevention officer. “The messaging is not to scare people but to share the options, so that way we can all have the mindset and know the options, and have that survival mindset no matter where we are.”

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 21, 2018

Arizona State University is teaching students about active shooter preparedness via resources that include a video produced by students involved in ASU’s Student Creative Services unit.

The preparedness video emphasizes the “run, hide, fight” strategy while reminding people to stay alert to warning signs of potential violence, such as wearing a trench coat in the middle of the summer, ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson said. Certain odd behaviors could serve as warning signs, and anyone who witnesses something that seems threatening could potentially prevent a crisis by speaking up.

“It is really important that if you know of something that might be percolating, say something,” Thompson said. “People don’t just snap; there is a buildup."

The idea for an active-shooter video specific to ASU began about two years ago, a combination of seeing active-shooter safety videos created by other schools and taking input from staff members on the best way to inform students of vital safety information, said Allen Clark, executive director of preparedness and security initiatives at ASU.

They decided to engage students in the making of the video to get their perspective on reaching other students and to cut production costs. The overall project was led by Rick Bauer, workplace safety training manager with ASU’s Environmental Health and Safety Office, and involved coordination with stakeholders and reaching out to agencies like the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department.

According to Becky Garcia, ASU Police crime prevention officer, active shooter scenarios are difficult to talk about but the video stresses the importance of preparing in case of such an event.

“That’s the message in this video,” Garcia said. “The messaging is not to scare people but to share the options, so that way we can all have the mindset and know the options, and have that survival mindset no matter where we are.” 

The video is short, about ten minutes. Garcia said the ASU community can gain more information by signing up for the interactive, in-person classes offered on campus, which are conducted by ASU Police and Clark.  

“It takes about an hour,” Garcia said. “We have the opportunity at that point to answer from the law enforcement perspective any questions that might arise.”

According to ASU’s Active Shooter Preparedness website, there are additional active-shooter and workplace-safety-themed instructional videos available to watch via the Blackboard portal.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

Most   Popular