By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – Recent college campus shootings also have Illinois State University discussing their emergency protocols.

Emergency Manager for ISU Eric Hodges said the university focuses on prevention and preparedness when it comes to campus emergencies. In the event that students and faculty encounter danger in the classroom, Hodges said the best method is run, hide and fight. The first option if possible is to run as far away from the building as possible.

“If that doesn’t work, then you hide,” Hodges said. “That is traditionally your lock down approach. You would barricade the doors, go all quiet in the room and make it as difficult as possible for that bad guy to get in the room. And the third option, if hiding fails and you’re face to face with that suspect, your option is to fight.”

ISU Campus Alerts system, Hodges said, makes students and faculty aware of any emergencies on campus.

“It goes out over text messaging, every one of our desk phones, Twitter and Facebook, all of our classrooms projectors through digital displays, our website, speakers and so forth,” said Hodges. “It is the best that tool we have at the institution for warning our campus that a major emergency is taking place.”

Hodges added that almost 100-percent of those signed up for the Campus Alerts receive the notifications within 30 seconds.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].