Cal State Bakersfield hosted an open discussion Feb. 10 to address student concerns and gather feedback following the recent campus lockdown. 

Antonio Reyes, current Associated Students, Inc. president opened the forum by sharing his experience during the incident. 

“I was worried, and I didn’t feel safe,” Reyes said. “There was a time when we didn’t know anything.” 

Dr. Dwayne Cantrell, vice president for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management, said campus police responded within minutes of receiving the threat. He expressed gratitude that the situation did not escalate. 

“The police acted fast. They arrived at the field in a matter of minutes,” Cantrell said. “We’re grateful it was only a threat.” 

Cantrell acknowledged, however, that communication was an issue. 

“The only thing we failed at was communication,” he said. “We are working on it.” 

Eric Lord, director of the CSUB Counseling Center, reminded students that support services are available for anyone affected by the lockdown. 

“If you need help and want to talk about what happened Monday, you can go to the Counseling Center,” Lord said. “And not just about Monday — if you need help in another area as well.” 

Student feedback collected during the forum reflected widespread anxiety. Many reported feeling irritable, insecure, and frustrated by what they described as a lack of timely communication. Others said they were confused by campus protocols and feared for their friends and family. 

“When I received the message that the campus was in lockdown, I was paralyzed,” said Gracie Curiel, a junior computer science major. “I was afraid to go to campus, but I knew I had to get back for orchestra rehearsal. Since I wasn’t sure what to do, I stayed there for almost two hours.” 

Curiel added that the building she was in did not have windows overlooking the main area, which increased her uncertainty. 

Cantrell said the university is working to improve its emergency notification system, acknowledging that not all students received the Alert message. 

“We know that not all students were able to receive the Alert message, but we are working on it,” he said. 

University officials said improving communication remains a priority moving forward.