Purdue reminds students of resources, preparedness after MSU shootings

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·1 min read

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − Days after three Michigan State University students were shot and killed on the East Lansing campus, Purdue sent a reminder to Boilermakers of safety measures in place in the event of a similar attack.

A student walks to class as he passes by the Purdue University Gateway Arch, on May 18, 2022, in West Lafayette.
A student walks to class as he passes by the Purdue University Gateway Arch, on May 18, 2022, in West Lafayette.

"The trained professionals within the Purdue University Police, Fire, and Emergencies Preparedness and Planning Departments, in concert with the broader Purdue community, are hard at work every day to provide a safe campus environment," in a statement signed by Patrick Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, and Jay Wasson, vice president for physical facilities and chief public safety officer.

The university reminded students of Purdue's emergency procedures guide, which details the warning notification system − PurdueAlert − and evacuation procedures. The guide also addresses various types of emergencies, such as active threats, shelter-in-place situations, mental health crises and dangerous weather conditions.

"In an extreme situation," Friday's reminder stated, "the Purdue.edu homepage will host the most needed information and @LifeAtPurdue Twitter account will broadcast clear and factual information. All other university-affiliated accounts will be locked down. Updates will be published every 15 minutes."

Lansing Community College students Milo Smith, left, and Alec Xavier-Aviles braved the 22-degree cold to demonstrate Feb. 17, 2023, at the 'End Gun Violence - Spartan Strong' rally at the state Capitol in Lansing. The event was organized by MSU students sparked by Monday’s shooting rampage on the campus of Michigan State University where three died and four were critically injured. About fifty attended the event.

On Monday evening, Feb. 13, a 43-year-old man reportedly unaffiliated with Michigan State killed three students and wounded five others on campus before being confronted by police and turning a gun on himself, authorities said.

The PurdueAlert system encompasses a number of steps to notify the Boilermaker community about any deemed threat, including text messaging; push notifications from the Twitter account, @purdueemergency; more than 200 digital signs across campus displaying PurdueAlert messages; and desktop pop-up alerts on most university computers while in use.

"Together we work on a daily basis to keep students, faculty and staff safe," the Purdue release stated.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue reminds students of resources, preparedness after MSU shootings