OCCC Discusses Safety Concerns After Shooting Scare

Nearly a week ago, a miscommunication led to a shooting scare on a local college campus. Now, OCCC students and staff are voicing their concerns and questions about campus public safety.

Thursday, March 4th 2010, 12:16 pm

By: News 9


By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Nearly a week ago, a miscommunication led to a shooting scare on a local college campus. Now, OCCC students and staff are voicing their concerns and questions about campus public safety.

"We can't get to learning and teaching unless we have a safe environment. Safety is our first priority," OCCC President Paul Sechrist said in a public forum Thursday.

A public forum took place Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at OCCC's College Union as an opportunity to get feedback about campus safety.

The miscommunication came from a bulletin alerting students to a campus shooting in Tacoma, Washington on Feb. 26.

When telling students and employees about the alert, a student worker gave the impression that the shooting was on the Oklahoma City Community College campus, school spokesman Cordell Jordan said. The school was placed on lock down.

Nursing major Alex Buss asked several questions about the incident because there's some confusion over what happened. She, along with a group of other students, hid in the library for 20 minutes until police officers came in to evacuate the room.

"That was one of the scariest moments of my life, I really thought this was going to be a Columbine incident," Buss said.

Sechrist said a communication task force consisting of faculty, staff and student volunteers will be formed to gather reports on campus safety recommendation. Suggestions may also be submitted via e-mail at safetysuggestions@occc.edu.

"It's a new world, twitter, facebook, instant communication. We've got to make sure that students are using those and our faculty is are using those that we can employ those also in a crisis situation to provide effective, timely manner accurate information to everyone that could be impacted," Sechrist said.

A detailed report on Friday's incident will be released to the public next week.

"While Friday turned out to be a false alarm, it created the opportunity to just like a drill, to review, debrief, learn, make changes and be better," Sechrist said.

Another forum will take place Monday, March 8 at 5 p.m.

The Oklahoma City Community College campus is in southwest Oklahoma City near Interstate 240 and Interstate 44.

More on News9.com:
- Report of Gunman At OCCC Was 'Miscommunication,' School Official Says
- Bill Could Allow College Faculty to Carry Concealed Guns on Campus

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