Cal State Fullerton students and staff participated in an immersive active-shooter preparedness training on Nov. 12 led by the CSUF Police Department designed to strengthen emergency readiness across campus.
The training combined a classroom presentation with interactive demonstrations, giving the campus community a chance to practice physical response strategies under controlled conditions. Participants learned how to identify concerning behaviors, communicate with campus police and apply response methods.
For Vrund Thakkar, a computer science graduate student, the most important part of the event was understanding the early warning signs that may precede an act of violence.
“As a student or as a person outside the PD, we would not know how to identify a person as being a threat,” Thakkar said. “The traits, the behavior things which we can observe to identify the person as a threat.”
The session also emphasized the run, hide and fight model, the safety protocol widely used in schools and workplaces nationwide. Attendees learned how to assess whether to evacuate, conceal themselves or physically defend as a last resort.
“The three methods to react in the situation are hide, run and the last and final resort is fighting the opponent,” Thakkar said. “The ways to tackle the person and how to communicate to the PD. The direct calling, their website and everything. It was nice to know.”
CSUF PD encouraged students to create a personal safety plan, including knowing exits, emergency phone numbers and being aware of surroundings.
“We are not in direct touch with the campus security,” Thakkar said. “We need to know how we can communicate with them and get safety intact.”
Staff members also walked away with renewed appreciation for the police department’s role in community safety. Associate Director of Digital Media in Strategic Communications and a CSUF alumna Jillian Brander said the training reinforced the department’s commitment to keeping the Titan community safe.
“The biggest thing that I experienced from this training is the fact that our police department is so supportive in everything that they do to protect students, faculty and staff,” Brander said. “It’s just a great opportunity to be able to learn this very important topic and the best ways to handle it.”
Attendees had an opportunity to partake in a physical component of the presentation, where a CSUF PD member was dressed up in a padded suit pretending to be an active shooter.
Brander said she appreciated seeing how individuals with different strengths contributed during the hands-on scenarios.
“It’s great to see how everybody plays a part no matter what their skills are. Whether it’s taking down the attacker, or calling 911 or having everyone exit,” Brander said. “Every Titan plays a part in keeping everyone safe.”
Participants in the physical component of the event were able to throw balls, swing pool noodles and tackle a real person.
For many, the training highlighted not only the importance of being prepared, but also the shared responsibility of having a safer campus environment.
“Safety is the number one priority on a college campus,” Brander said.