SFU preparing students for possible active shooter scenario

Simon Fraser University has partnered with Burnaby RCMP totrainstudents and staff to be prepared for anactive shooter on campus.

The awareness campaign includes a website,workshops, and a video that simulates an emergency scenario.

"Although active threat events are extremely rare, they have taken place in Canada," says ChiefSupt. Dave Critchey in the training video.

Steven MacLean, senior director ofSFU Campus Safety and Security Services, says the video isdesigned to help people protect themselves, while othertraining opportunities will also be offered.

"Our staff will also be engaging our community in lunch and learn sessionsand staff meetings, and providing educational resources through face-to-face interactions," he said.

Tips include:

• Finding an exit and headfor it immediately.
• If that's not a safe option, find a place to hide.
• As a last resort, take action against the assailant.

"Tackling the threat, if safe. Using a chair, using a fire extinguisher, doing everything you can to actively stop the threat," said MacLean.

Andr Gerolymatos, an SFU professor and international security specialist, says he wonders why the university didn't offer an awareness campaign sooner.

"We are living in a new age ... where killing and terrorism have become commonplace," he said.

Gerolymatos recommends more schools train students to respond to an active threat on their campuses.

SFU said itplans to hold the training sessions later this year.