University Hands Out Hockey Pucks as Part of Emergency Preparedness Plan

University Hands Out Hockey Pucks as Part of Emergency Preparedness Plan

"They have enough mass to cause injury, small enough to be thrown, (are) portable and they're not considered a weapon," Oakland University Police Chief Mark Gordon told CNN.

Oakland University in Detroit, Michigan, is arming students and professors with hockey pucks with which to defend themselves in case of an active shooter situation. Police and faculty members thought of the strategy after an emergency preparedness presentation.

The university teaches students the “run, hide, fight” strategy in case of an intruder, but Oakland University Police Chief Mark Gordon said someone raised the question of what students and professors should use when fighting back.

Having a method of defense in a shooter situation could “dramatically increase survival,” Gordon said, and a good improvised weapon would be “anything that has weight and would cause injury if you were to throw it.”

The answer? Hockey pucks.

"They have enough mass to cause injury, small enough to be thrown, (are) portable and they're not considered a weapon," Oakland University Police Chief Mark Gordon told CNN.

Oakland University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has purchased 2,500 hockey pucks, distributing 800 to faculty and the rest to students. A university spokesman said the pucks cost 94 cents apiece, and the student government has already ordered an additional 1,000 pucks.

"When Chief Gordon mentioned that a hockey puck was an appropriate tool to have at your disposal, we went back and saw how much they cost," said Thomas Discenna, president of Oakland University’s AAUP chapter. "These things are relatively cheap."

However, Discenna added that the pucks are an “absolutely last resort,” saying “We hope and pray it never gets used for the purposes we may use it for.”

The AAUP chapter also donated $5,000 in funds for installing inside locks on campus classroom buildings.

"We wanted to have a door lock that would be easily locked from the inside," Discenna said. "Most doors now can be locked externally using a key."

The hockey pucks and inside locks are part of the university’s efforts to increase preparedness in case of an emergency situation on campus.

"The bigger picture is preparing us in having a plan in a classroom," Gordon said. "The hockey puck is nothing more than an improvised weapon, so people know what to do. There's no time to talk about a plan when you find yourself in that situation."

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now