Nearly a month since the shooting that occurred in Umpqua Community College in Oregon on Oct. 1, Bakersfield College has been working on making changes and raising awareness about the possibility of there being a similar threat on campus.

Students often do not think about this potential harm, but there are two faculty members who think about it constantly.

Psychology professor Becky Whitson and Criminal Justice professor Patricia Smith both have strong opinions about the motives of a school shooter and what to do in the case of an emergency.

Whitson focused on the reasons why someone decides to commit such a crime.

“These students are usually socially awkward, and because of that they are often bullied. However, these signs aren’t always so obvious,” said Whitson.

According to Whitson, this behavior can stem from the shooter’s home life or simply from not being able to find acceptance in the community. She said that ordinary college students focus their energy on things such as athletics or academics. Students who resort to violence often feel a sense of rejection. They are often alone, and focus their energy on the detrimental.

Whitson went on to say that it’s difficult to really point out a shooter. If it was so easy, the event could be just as easily prevented.

“Students who do these sort of things usually don’t keep it to themselves. Whether they tell someone or share it on social media, whoever they’re sharing the information with should have enough common sense to report it immediately, unless they’re in it together,” Whitson said.

She added that mass shootings on college campuses are usually premeditated and are not the result of just one incident. A common part of their plan is suicide.

“When you have a plan, you carry it out. Most of these people know they’re not going to survive. They’re either gonna shoot themselves or be shot by someone else. It’s desired, and they usually feel glorified, like it’s something they’ll be remembered for, which is unfortunately the case,” Whitson said.

Whitson’s focus then shifted briefly into discussing issues she believes should change at BC in order to improve student and faculty safety in case a shooting does occur. She believes the campus public safety should be armed.

“I think they’re doing our poor public safety a disservice. What can they do besides possibly be a barrier and get shot themselves? If I was standing there in front of the shooter and public safety walking without a gun, I’m not sure they could do anything,” said Whitson.

Smith answered Whitson’s questions, stating everything public safety could do.

According to Smith, BC public safety could communicate with the Bakersfield Police Department, giving details about the location of the shooter and acting as they see necessary.

“BPD is not too far from here. They could arrive in five to 10 minutes. Yes, there will more than likely be some casualties, but public safety could help a great deal,” Smith said.

Smith also discussed what she’s taught her students to do in the event of a shooting.  Doors should be barricaded in addition to being locked.  Never stand in front of the door, and attack the shooter if he or she accesses a classroom.

“Time is of the essence. The goal of the shooters is to shoot the greatest amount of people in the least amount of time. The more obstacles in their way, the better. They’re not going to spend 10 to 15 minutes taking chairs down and out of their way,” Smith added.

Smith also said that students should turn off their phones unless they are trying to communicate with 911, and students should only make emergency calls if the shooter is not near. Anything that could bring attention to a classroom full of students should be avoided. If possible, the shooter should be confronted and incapacitated, and the weapon should be seized.

“As long as the shooter has a gun, they’re going to keep shooting, but we have the advantage. There are a lot of us, and only one shooter. We just need a defense plan before he enters the room,” Smith added.

“If confronted with the shooter, be assertive. Don’t plead for you life. They find pleasure in that. These shooters don’t have anything to lose. They can be dangerous and demented beyond the spectrum,” Smith said.

Smith believes BC could raise awareness about this potential threat by making it part of the routine emergency drills. She also said that despite her history with law enforcement, she couldn’t predict the circumstance of a potential shooting.

“I want to be more prepared in order to save my students’ lives and the lives of others. We always say that it’s never going to happen in Kern County, but it already has [Taft 2013]. Being a member of the faculty, I’m going to think about my students before I think about myself,” Smith concluded.