Locking down security

One year after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Auburn University staff is working to prevent a similar tragedy.
"We have a safe campus," said Chance Corbett, associate director of emergency management. "We could take the approach of 'Well, that will never happen here,' but in our position of public safety, we can never say that. We look at what could happen and prepare for that."
Part of preparation for potential threats is lockdown training.
"A lockdown is a total lockdown state," said Heidi Ross, a retired high school teacher. "Nobody goes in or out of rooms, halls, offices or the main doors."
Training for lockdowns at Auburn try to build on those elements learned in elementary and high school.
"The traditional lockdown, which most of our students are familiar with, is typically closing the door and turning the lights off," Corbett said. "Getting out of view with those actions gives the impression no one is in the room. We train a little more than that at Auburn."
Corbett said the training is broken down into steps.
"Our program, the one we've been training with the past few years, is called ALICE. That is alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate," Corbett said.
ALICE was chosen from a number of similar programs.
"I'm also an instructor in Run, Hide and Fight for Homeland Security, but it's the exact same thing," Corbett said.
Corbett is committed to sharing his training experience.
"We go into a lot of details. It is a two-hour class we teach," Corbett said. "We taught about 1,500 students in the arena a month ago. We train new students and Greek life students, but we teach other classes on campus too."
The training available to Auburn students and staff focuses on realistic situations.
"We train at the university here to have options," Corbett said. "We give them several option and scenarios. We talk about what you would do in this situation or that."
An average classroom is the focus of ALICE training.
"We train to lock the door if you can," Corbett said. If it doesn't lock at least barricade the door so that someone can't come in."
Rooms equipped with technology resources on campus have electronic locks, but many standard entry doors have no security.
"If they do try to come in, we train to give them as much resistance as possible," Corbett said. "We want more than just the one option to hide. We want to try and do everything you can to keep the person away."
Fighting the tendency to freeze is also addressed by the training.
"I really focus and harp on the inability to make a decision when these sorts of things happen," Corbett said. "The worst thing you can do is not make a decision. You have to learn to fight the natural reaction humans have, which is to hide under a table or desk."
Decision-making skills are important beyond the moment of immediate danger.
"If the person leaves, is it safe to stay? If the person is in the room next to you, should you barricade the door or attempt to escape? What I'm pushing for is showing people they have the capability to act." Corbett said. "Now, if you can get away from the situation, go. If you can climb out a low window or leave through another door, then by all means if it can be done safely then do that."
Training for lockdowns is based on general principles due to the various environments on campus. The physical size and scope of the campus is not the only challenge to Corbett though.
"The sheer number (of people) is the biggest challenge," Corbett said. "We're trying to get as many people as we can trained."
Corbett is satisfied with the progress in training so far.
"We've trained over 10,000 people. If you train one person who happens to be in that room at the time and they can stand up and know what to do, you've given that entire room a tool to survive." Corbett said. "It only takes one, but we want to train as many as we can."
Public schools in the area depend on similar principles in lockdown training.
Jane Buzbee, a high school teacher for 33 years, remembered consistent support from the administration.
"We had meetings throughout the year to address any possible circumstances," Buzbee said.
Buzbee clearly remembered putting her training to use.
"Early in my career we had a lockdown, but then it was called a bomb threat," Buzbee said. "My focus was taking care of those I was responsible for at that time. Those children were my responsibility and I had to protect them at all costs."
Knowledge and training were key elements for public-school teachers.
"Teachers today need to be more aware and do things a bit better," Ross said. "Be more conscious about weapons, attitudes and triggers which might start something."
Corbett recognized the value of prevention, but emphasized action.
"On the other side of it you have those who would completely disagree with the fight back portion. Some just don't believe that you have the capability to fight a person who has a gun." Corbett said. "We have some sound tactics to help you distract the person and disorient them. Give yourself a chance to fight back. Take them to the ground or get the heck out of there."
The tactics laid out in ALICE training are intended to minimize the harm done before law enforcement arrives. Corbett said local police are important to any lockdown action the university will take.
"We get along great with the police department. We train together. We write plans together. We exercise together. We do everything we can and we've got a great working relationship."
The opportunity to go through training is not required by Auburn for staff or students.
"It's optional. We'd love for it to be mandatory, but everyone has busy schedules and it is hard to get it done." Corbett said. "I'd encourage everyone to watch our eight-minute video on YouTube called Auburn University active shooter."
The university makes training available to protect members of the Auburn family.
"Be aware and get trained. It's free, it will take two hours and you will be glad you did it," Corbett said. "At the end of the day we just want to keep everyone as safe as we can."