EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University’s Department of Public Safety is hosting special training sessions for students and employees to provide strategies during an active shooter occurrence. Attendees will learn effective response options through safety drills and exercises. The sessions led by Lieutenant Doug Wing and Officer Cathy Wilman, program coordinators for EMU's Department of Public Safety, will begin July 13 at 9 a.m. at the University's Student Center.

“I firmly believe that the best way to save lives from violent incidents is for the public and law enforcement to work together, and this training helps us do just that,” said Wilman. “The more people learn about what they can do in an active assailant situation, the safer our community will be,” she added.

ALICE is an acronym representing the program’s action steps: alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate. The purpose of ALICE is to educate the public and provide them with options they can use to act and increase their chances of survival if they ever face an active assailant situation. The training will include effective response options through safety drills and exercises.  

As a result of active assailant incidents increasing over the years, law enforcement has regularly trained to respond to these incidents. Programs like ALICE help prepare the public to act during the timeframe between when the assaults start happening to when the police arrive and confront the assailant. 

"Just like first aid and CPR, it's a perishable skill, so we offer this training year-round," said Wilman. "We encourage everyone, including students, faculty, staff, and community members, to take this training regularly to increase their preparedness and to help keep this information fresh in their minds."

The training includes a presentation providing information about active assailant incidents, including warning signs of a possible assailant and what you can do if you find yourself in an active assailant situation. Attendees will also have the option to participate in a hands-on scenario and discuss their options. 

By attending one of the provided sessions, individuals will feel better prepared and could help minimize the loss of life. ALICE training is scheduled  on the following dates: 
 

• July 13 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Student Center Room 310A/B

• July 27 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center Room 310 A/B

• August 4 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center Room 310 A/B

• August 19 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Student Center Room 310 A/B

“Participating in the drills and exercises will help participants prepare for an active assailant situation,” said Wing.  “The trainings will entail utilizing what is immediately available in a room to barricade and lock down a door, or finding something to distract an attacker if you're ever forced into a situation where you have to counter an attacker,” he added.

All trainings are open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Officer Cathy Wilman at cgeyer@emich.edu or Lieutenant Doug Wing at dwing@emich.edu. Additional trainings will be scheduled once the fall semester begins. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral, and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences, and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors, and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities, and announcements, visit EMU Today.