FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

SUPERIOR - The recent mass shooting in Newtown Connecticut has officials at UWS re-evaluating emergency procedures. They're holding emergency response drills to not only find possible flaws in their system but to also force students to think about what they'd do if a shooter were on the loose.

The halls of UWS were turned into a what-if situation with the goal of minimizing deaths if a shooter were to ever go mad on campus.

"Everything short of calling 911... asking people to turn off the lights, asking them to think about where they would barricade or where they would hide -- If they would be fleeing where would they be fleeing too," said Renee Wachter, UWS' chancellor.

Campus police got on the intercom Monday afternoon to alert students and staff about an active shooter.

"This is the first time we're doing it, so this is new to us," said student Samantha Vincent.

"Having an active shooter plan is really important to make students feel safe," said student John Kronenwetter.
Chancellor Wachter says the tragic shootings at schools and workplaces over the last three years have her administration re-evaluating crisis response procedures while heightening the conversation among students.

"So, giving people a chance to stop and think about where they are, the physical surrounding, and how they would react," Wachter said.

Vincent said she's all for a proactive approach to dealing with the worst.

"I think we need to be prepared just in case of anything were to happen like that," Vincent said.

Kronenwetter said he took the drill seriously but hopes other students will get a little more serious and realize what happened in Connecticut can happen here.

"It's important to me because I value my life and I value the lives of all of the students that are here," Kronenwetter said.

Students are being encouraged to give feedback on the drill -- both good and bad.
The campus will be holding an open discussion debriefing next week.