By Fernando Bazan
Staff Writer
It’s the last thing anyone on any campus wants to think about, but it’s an unfortunate reality in contemporary America: school shootings.
On Oct. 15, California State University, Dominguez Hills’ University Police will host a seminar informing people on ways to deal with an active shooter on campus, as well as other emergencies.
A variety of guest speakers will address the audience and will help answers questions anyone might have.
While the numbers vary depending on how a campus shooting is defined (fatalities, on or near campus, accidental discharges), and the numbers are often politicized, according to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, as of Oct. 4, 65 shootings on college campuses have occurred in 2018, the same number for all of 2017.
The seminar will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Loker Student Union.
Brandon Stolk, CSUDH Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, will be a guest speaker breaking down what to do in case of an active shooter, as well as other types of emergencies.
Stolk says this seminar is open to the public and not just students because it is training that everyone needs to know and shouldn’t be restricted to one group of people.
“We want as many people as possible to walk away from this and feel like they are more prepared for a situation such as a shooting,” said Polk. “This can lead to other people helping out one another in the moment instead of being frozen and wondering what to do.”
While this is the third time this seminar has happened, it will be the first time other departments will be attending the event.
The Student Health Center, Title IX, and Housing Departments are all listed to be present as well as the Women’s Resource Center.
“If by any chance one can’t make it to the seminar but wants to learn more on how to handle a situation such as a school shooter, the campus police’s webpage has information on how to be better prepared for a school shooter,” said Stolk.
