Lane College takes proactive measures to enhance campus safety

JACKSON, Tenn. — Lane college began their Wednesday morning by teaching their students, staff, and faculty about active shooter safety.

Today’s lesson was about staying alive in case of an active shooter.

“Basically, they’re just preparing themselves mentally incase an active shooter occurs so they won’t be so afraid to tackle on the issue if it happens,” said Dr. Stevan Joy, Chief of Campus Safety and Security.

Both, Alisa Hayes and Dr. Stevan Joy, with Lane College, shared they are parents and topics like this are very serious to them.

This is also some parents’ worst dream.

“People are dying, and that’s what we don’t want so if we know that they are prepared, we are here to save lives. Parents do not bring their children to college in thinking that they’re going to die,” said Alisa Hayes, Professor at Lane College.

This conversation was important to have to help students in unpredictable moments.

“Its a way to survive. It makes it easier for you to think your process, go through your mindset more easier. Versus no knowing. So this makes them respond in a calmer manner just to fight to survive for their families,” said Joy.

Some students of the Criminal Justice Department shared statistics on gun violence and mass shootings to inform their peers.

Also one student used her platform to share information.

“I was able to utilize my platform to be able to give out the resources of the gun ranges, proper training, and different resources already here in Tennessee and promote them out to the students who need them here,” said Laila Cooper, Miss Lane College Volunteer.

Cooper shared that having these conversations can help her and her peers in the future.

“I want us to be able to know that we can all take action at the end of the day because we are the next generation and we are in control of our own futures so if something like this is affecting our future how are we going to push forward, in order to secure it for ourselves,” said Cooper.

Cooper also shared that knowing if the students want to be a savior or the one that needs to be saved was an important takeaway she hopes everyone learned.

For more local news, click here.