Catawba College News Service

SALISBURY — Catawba College, in collaboration with SafeZone by CriticalArc, hosted an active shooter symposium on March 6. The event brought together a diverse community of campus safety leaders and administrators from various sectors to address critical issues surrounding active shooter incidents.

“We are grateful to SafeZone by CriticalArc for sponsoring the Active Shooter Symposium and bringing together a platform for cross-sector collaboration, allowing attendees to learn from each other’s experiences and strategies,” Human Resources Director Leigh Ellington said.

With a turnout of 90 registrants, the symposium saw representation from 20 different higher education institutions, three K-12 schools, nine government agencies, five healthcare facilities and one retirement community. The attendees engaged in insightful discussions and shared best practices in mitigating and responding to active shooter situations. The symposium provided a platform for cross-sector collaboration, allowing attendees to learn from each other’s experiences and strategies. 

“In today’s challenging times, collaboration and proactive measures are essential in safeguarding our campuses and institutions,” said David Najarian, Catawba College’s public safety director. “The Active Shooter Symposium served as a crucial platform for sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships to address this pressing issue.”

The symposium highlighted the importance of preparedness, communication, and swift response in mitigating the impact of active shooter incidents. Through collective efforts and continued dialogue, the participants reaffirmed their dedication to creating safer environments for students, faculty, staff, patients and the broader community.