‘Gap in protocol’ blamed for lack of communication

At 2:40 p.m. March 30, the Office of Public Safety & Security received a call regarding a potential active shooter in the Francis A. Drexel Library. The sight of about 25 armed officers from the Philadelphia Police Department and Lower Merion Township Police Department surrounding the library five minutes later – and no information broadcast on the SJU Safe Emergency Notification System – set off a wave of panic on campus.

Juliana Hackett ’23, watching the scene from a classroom window in Post Hall, texted her roommates: “Um like 20 cops just pulled up to the lib running is everyone good?”

Emma Gugliemini ’23, hiding in one of the library bathrooms, texted her roommates: “Everyone started screaming and running, so we ran to the bathroom.”

As confusion spread among campus community members, students and professors in nearby buildings barricaded themselves in classrooms. Those in the library hid, or ran, unsure what was happening. Others gathered outside the library, worried, crying, watching a police officer patrol the roof.

At 3:09 p.m., an alert appeared on SJU Safe system: “No emergency on Hawk Hill. The report of an active shooter in Drexel Library has been investigated and was inaccurate. There is no emergency situation on Hawk Hill.”

“Although police knew very quickly upon arrival that this was a false report, additional calls were coming in from others on campus and police needed to complete their on-site procedures,” wrote Kevin Gfeller, assistant director of public relations for MarComm Operations, in response to written questions from The Hawk.

But by then, many members of the university community were traumatized. Students went back to their residence halls shaken, not wanting to be alone for the rest of the evening. Others called out of work on campus or skipped their evening classes. Even the next day, some were reluctant to return to campus, especially to the library.

The University Student Senate delivered a statement at 6:30 p.m. on the night of the incident, expressing their gratitude to the Philadelphia Police Department and the Office of Public Safety & Security for responding to the incident in a timely manner.

But the statement also criticized the university response.

“By the time that an announcement from Public Safety was released to the student body on the SJU Safe App at 3:09 pm EST, it had already been more than 20 minutes since students in the library were told to take cover,” the statement read. “Apart from communication with those in the affected location, students had no guidance as to proper procedure during this interval. Additionally, multiple students reported that they were not given information after calling Public Safety during this time.”

In an email to the university community sent the afternoon of March 31, Ross Radish, JD, interim vice president of Student Life, admitted there was a “gap in our protocol” regarding a false active shooter report on Hawk Hill.

“That is unacceptable, and we are taking steps to eliminate that gap,” Radish said.

Radish added that the university has begun a comprehensive review of the incident, a review of emergency exits and evacuation standards, a test of the Emergency Notification System through SJU Safe and the addition of a false report scenario to their previously planned active shooter drill this summer.

Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090
Campus Ministry, 610-660-1030
The Office of Student Outreach & Support, 610-660-1149
The Jesuit community, 610-660-1400
Employee Assistance Program, 866-799-2728