Correction: Some corrections were made to this article to fix clarity and editing issues.
The suspected gunman alert at PCC was an anxiety inducing experience for both Long Beach City College students and faculty, who were right beside one another in classrooms when the notifications were sent out.
The thought of having an active shooter has made many professors begin to reflect on what they would or could do if thrown into this situation.
LBCC has trained many of their faculty members on what to do in emergency situations, like accounting professor Maureen Baker.
“The training I’ve been to, the focus is don’t just stay, you gotta plan on fighting back. It’s all about what we can do to fight back if we’re stuck,” Baker said.
For faculty, alternatives are given, but when facing the last resort, fighting the threat to keep everyone safe is the last priority.
When dealing with the emotional impacts lingering within students, food and nutrition professor Lilli Wells has taken measures into her own hands.
“A gunman on the campus is going to leave a similar impact for many people. So I try to invite students to stay after class and talk about it,” Wells said.
Wells dedicates her time to students who are exposed to violence so that their anxieties do not distract them from their education.
The food and nutrition professor wants to maintain a productive and academic atmosphere for students while being aware that the environment has become hostile.
The situation turned out to be a false alarm, and now, it is fitting that the college reflect on the response of the faculty, the police, and school administrators.
Superintendent-President Reagan Romali was pleased of the work that was put in to keep students safe at the Pacific Coast Campus.
“I have never seen such a show of force to come out for our students, faculty, staff, and administrators, it was a phenomenal support response,” Romali said.
Though no one was during the lockdown, this can be considered a rehearsal for LBCC on what can happen in a real school shooting.