UB condolences, training follow Michigan State shooting

UB extends its condolences to the campus of Michigan State University following Monday’s tragic shooting, while reminding UB students about the availability of counseling services and preparedness training here at home.

“As a university community, we join MSU in mourning these promising and beloved students, and our hearts go out to their families and friends as they grieve their loved ones,” said President Satish K. Tripathi. “While no words can possibly speak to such a devastating loss, our students, faculty and staff are thinking of our MSU friends and colleagues during this incredibly challenging time, and we continue to hope for the full recovery of the five individuals in critical condition.”

UB students who may be grieving or traumatized by the Michigan State shootings that killed three students and badly wounded five others can reach out to campus Counseling Services at 716-645-2720 and ask to speak to a crisis counselor. Press “2” to be connected to a counselor if calling after hours.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program for support.

This latest mass shooting is also a sobering reminder of the need for students, staff and faculty to sign up for the UB Alert system, if they have not already. As the university’s official source for information about emergencies and interruptions to campus operations, the system sends users alerts via email, text, social media and the Guardian personal safety app.

An alert about an active shooter on campus would direct people to stay away from a dangerous area, explained Joshua Sticht, deputy chief of UB police. That might be different than what students heard in high school when they were directed to stay in a safe place, Sticht said.

“Our message will always have three key points,” Sticht said. “What is happening; where it is happening; and what you need to do to keep yourself safe.”

All UB students and employees will receive an alert email during an on-campus incident, but must first sign up to receive UB Alert text messages. Go to the site to register.

UB police also offer students, staff and faculty a preparedness-training course.

The 30- to 45-minute course includes discussion of the UB Alert system, provides some understanding of active shooters and explains in more detail the response strategy of “Run, Hide, Fight”: run, when an active shooter is in your vicinity; hide, if evacuation is not possible; and fight, as only a last resort when your life is in danger.

The course is usually offered at the beginning of the semester or upon request to UB police.

Since last May, university police have held the training 25 times for a variety of campus units, including Campus Living, Financial Aid, Human Resources and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

The next available training sessions will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 1 in the Landmark Room, 210 Student Union, and from 4:30-5:30 p.m. March 2, also in the Landmark Room. No registration is required.

Meanwhile, UB Emergency Management, police and University Communications regularly organize a full-scale, active-shooter drill that involves collaboration of leaders throughout the university and multiple local, state and federal agencies. It allows the campus to practice its various roles during a potential crisis.

As the exercise unfolds, real-time problem-solving and simulated alert messaging are used to provide a coordinated response from the university.

To learn more about emergency management, procedures and preparedness at UB, visit emergency.buffalo.edu.