The UO has scheduled three sessions of its violence prevention training program this week as awareness has been heightened following the tragic shootings at Umpqua Community College.
The sessions cover potential warning signs, information on police response capabilities and an overview of readiness activities at the campus level and for departments and individuals. The sessions also include a video that details the options individuals have when facing a violent incident.
Sessions are open to students, staff and faculty and will be offered Oct. 14, 15 and 16 at the Franklin Building, across Franklin Boulevard from the Jaqua Center. Advance registration is required. Training also is available online at http://ers.uoregon.edu/content/violence-prevention-and-active-shooter-training, which requires a login with DuckID.
Prevention training is just one of the ways the campus tries to deter violent incidents and prepare for those that can’t be avoided.
UO President Michael Schill outlined some of those efforts in an all-campus email sent shortly after the UCC incident. In his message, Schill urged people affected by the shootings to reach out if they need support.
The University Counseling Center continues to have counselors available and ready to talk, either in person at 1590 E. 13th Ave., across from Oregon Hall, or by calling 541-346-3227. Faculty and staff can reach counselors through the employee assistance program by calling 1-800-433-2320.
The UO also has emergency notification systems, including text messages, email, the alerts.uoregon.edu blog and social media. Sign up for alerts via DuckWeb.uoregon.edu.
“Safety is a shared responsibility for everyone, and we strongly encourage all students, faculty and staff to be aware of surroundings, report anything unusual and plan for how you would respond to an emergency situation,” said Andre Le Duc, executive director of Enterprise Risk Services.
Training is offered regularly to UO departments and units regarding violence prevention, including active shooter warning signs and response preparation. In the past two years, more than a dozen departments have participated in trainings.
In addition, there are resources for faculty to prepare for unexpected incidents, including steps to take before and in connection with the beginning of each term, at http://emc.uoregon.edu/content/faculty.
The UO has an Incident Management Team in place for emergencies, including law enforcement situations, natural disasters and other situations. When incidents occur, law enforcement response begins with the UO Police Department with support from the Eugene Police Department and other law enforcement agencies if needed.