Executive Summary
- Dominican University adheres to FEMA’s “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol for active shooter situations.
- Unarmed campus safety personnel rely on the River Forest Police Department for threat neutralization.
- Emergency alerts include text, email, and digital screen takeovers across campus.
- Administration is considering implementing drills during active sessions to improve readiness.
RIVER FOREST, Ill. – In the wake of a deadly shooting at Brown University that resulted in two fatalities, officials at Dominican University have issued a comprehensive update regarding campus active shooter protocols, aiming to address student concerns through enhanced communication and coordination with local law enforcement.
Director of Campus Safety Sasha Santiago emphasized that the university’s emergency strategy is grounded in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “Run, Hide, Fight” guidance. The protocol prioritizes evacuation as the primary option, followed by concealment, and physically engaging the aggressor only as a last resort. “Our educational initiative… is that we are trying to prepare you to be aware of these concepts regardless of where you are at,” Santiago stated.
Santiago clarified the operational distinction between university staff and local authorities. As the Department of Campus Safety is unarmed, it does not function as a tactical neutralization unit. Instead, the university relies on a close partnership with the River Forest Police Department to address armed threats. Officials noted that local police are integrated into the campus’s active shooter response planning.
According to Santiago, River Forest officers are equipped to respond immediately to active shooter situations without delay. “The minute someone gets to campus, they can engage and try to neutralize that threat,” Santiago stated, noting that officers are trained to bypass waiting periods during critical incidents.
To ensure rapid dissemination of information, the university utilizes a multi-channel alert system. In the event of an emergency, a mass notice is distributed via text and email, accompanied by a “screen takeover” on all university-owned digital displays to warn those on campus of an immediate threat.
Addressing the practical application of these protocols, officials are currently evaluating the implementation of active shooter drills while classes are in session. While previous administrations avoided such drills to prevent potential student trauma, Santiago acknowledged the “value in seeing the system work” to ensure operational readiness.
Procedural Safety Outlook
The decision to revisit drill schedules and openly communicate tactical limitations reflects a shift in institutional safety management at the university level. By explicitly defining the unarmed role of campus security and the reliance on municipal police, the administration aligns its strategy with standard operational procedures for non-sworn campus environments. The potential introduction of drills during academic sessions suggests a prioritization of kinetic preparedness over passive policy awareness, highlighting the evolving nature of campus security standards.
