Eight students took their seats in the Cedar Key Room in the Student Union at University of Central Florida to listen to a class called Shots Fired.
“I came because I am deathly afraid of guns,” freshman Gabriel Rios said.
UCF’s Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management hosted a workshop dedicated to teaching students how to react if there is an active shooter on campus.
Officer Stephens, who spoke at the event, said this class is important because it gets students thinking about circumstances that do not quickly come to mind. He said the class prepares students and provides information on reaction to an active shooter.
“We want students to be prepared. We want faculty to be prepared and, of course, anyone who [comes] on board here as a student or faculty needs to have some recognition of the fact that something can happen, and if your mind hasn’t thought about it then your body can’t go there,” UCFPD officer Peter Stephens said.
There were 236 mass shootings in 2015, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
A video was showed and it described what to do if an active shooter is present on campus. The video encourages vigilance and to report any suspicious activity. The video also said that if a student does see an active shooter on campus that the student should get as far away as possible. It suggests not hiding unless cornered in a room. If you can move then move and get as far away as possible. It is also important to possess a survivalist mindset when dealing with an active shooter.
Events will continue throughout the month of September. The next event, Peace Love Music, will take place on Sept. 15 in the Cedar Key Room.
