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Student Services gives safety tips in wake of Fla. shooting

Student Services sent out an emergency preparedness reminder to the University community on Feb. 16. The reminder was sent out after the shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14, according to Tracy Gottlieb, vice president of Student Services. “The tragedy in Florida reminded me that it was time to again send out that reminder,” Gottlieb wrote in an email. “We try to do periodic updates for the community so that they refresh themselves on best practices in the remote possibility of an active shooter.” [caption id="attachment_22126" align="aligncenter" width="838"] Sarah Yenesel/Photography Editor Student Services sent out an email to SHU’s student body reminding them to stay alert after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.[/caption] Gottlieb described what would happen in the event of an active shooter being on campus. “Students will receive an emergency alert with information and instructions,” she said. “Computers that are part of the network will flash that same information.” Gottlieb then said that from that point on the South Orange Police Department (SOPD) and other law enforcement agencies would assume responsibility of the situation. The campus community would then continue to receive communication as the event unfolded. She also said that students should remind themselves of what do to in the event of an emergency by watching the “Run, Hide, Fight,” video provided by the university and reviewing the information on the Public Safety Code Blue webpage. Gottlieb concluded by saying that she wants SHU students to feel safe on campus, but also alert. Nicholas Kerr, a freshman diplomacy and international relations major, agrees that everyone should remain aware of their surroundings, but that overall, he feels safe on Seton Hall’s campus. “I believe the threat of an active shooter exists everywhere nowadays, and that includes Seton Hall,” he said. “But I also believe we are under less of a threat than some larger, more prominent campuses.” Kerr added that he feels Seton Hall could be doing more to prepare the student body for such an emergency. “Sending out an email is a nice gesture, but I believe that in order to truly make students feel safe Seton Hall should take a more active role in promoting these steps and policies,” he said. “For instance, possibly holding seminars on how exactly students should respond to an active shooter situation.” Dr. Mary Meehan, interim president said that she wants students to be ready for emergency as well. “Our world is a place where sadly we all need to be vigilant and prepared at all times,” Meehan wrote in an email. “I strongly urge our community to watch the video mentioned in the message and to take any emergency siren very seriously.” Isabel Soisson can be reached at isabel.soisson@student.shu.edu.

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