By Kaleel Steward
Staff Writer
Parker Henningsen/ TrevEchoes
In response to the recent heartbreaking incidents at Antioch High School, the campus security is enhancing its initiatives to inform students and staff about active shooter protocols.
Chief Security Officer James Hambrick stated that while the university’s emergency operation procedure for an active shooter exists, specific details of it are not publicly shared for safety reasons.
On January 22, a student at Antioch High School fatally shot one person and injured another. This marks the second school shooting in Nashville since 2023. On March 27, 2023, a shooter claimed the lives of six individuals, including Trevecca alum Katherine Koonce, the head of The Covenant School.
Security enhancements comprise additional internal training for personnel and upcoming training sessions aimed at students, faculty, and staff. In the event of such an emergency occurring on campus, security teams aim to identify and neutralize the threat.
“We’re conducting more patrols where our security officers will be more visible… that’s all intentional. We want to ensure that,” remarked Hambrick.
Hambrick noted that there is currently no system to assess individuals’ preparedness for an active shooter situation on campus, even though students have received some training through earlier schooling systems.
With regard to campus security, all residential buildings are secured with key card or physical key access.
Academic facilities such as the Mackey Education Building and the Wakefield Fine Arts Building may not always be locked, but security personnel or professors have the capability to lock them during an emergency.
Hambrick stressed the significance of communication during emergencies.
“One of the key initiatives we’re promoting is, ‘If you see something, say something,’” emphasized Hambrick.
He urges students to immediately report any suspicious activities.
The university employs an alert system to inform students and faculty about potential threats in real time, and Hambrick encourages all to register for RAVE alerts. To enroll, please visit www.getrave.com/login/trevecca.
