The terrorist attack on New York City and Washington, D.C., may seem far removed from the campus of Bakersfield College, but teachers, administrators, classified staff and students are feeling its impact.
The attack on the two major U.S. cities was presumed to be the act of a terrorist group or groups and the thought of any attack on campus may seem far-fetched, but on Tuesday, an emergency plan was put into motion.
Throughout Tuesday, BC’s top-level officials were in meetings to decide what security measures would be put in place. However, through all of this, a sense of shock, dismay and anger filled the campus.
“I was so angry coming to work today,” said Dr. Charles Guerrero, interim dean of students. “I practically had tears while I was driving. So angry.
“I remember there’s somewhat the same sense of shock and amazement when Kennedy got assassinated. I think it’s very similar, but different in that we’re all affected by the realization that terrorism is alive and well in the United States.”
Guerrero, as well as Dr. Ken Meier, vice president of instruction, both say that BC is far removed from the scene of terror on the East Coast. No matter what the potential threat on campus may be, BC’s staff is preparing to keep things “status quo.”
“BC is on a state of alert, in that we’ve had our emergency response procedures in place for a long time,” Meier said. “Those procedures have been activated. All the managers and staff on campus are being (made aware) of the situation and don’t anticipate (any situations at BC).”
Meier said that everyone is versed in what to do and that the meetings gave officials the ability to evaluate what everyone needs to do to maintain calm.
“We realize it’s going to be difficult to conduct business as usual,” Meier said. “But at the same time we feel we have a responsibility to try and maintain current operations. Unless it is demonstrated that there is any potential threat to student safety, we see our first role as maintaining a clean, healthy and safe environment,” he said. “That’s our most important transactional responsiblity to our students.”
Guerrero said that for now, security on campus is mainly to provide a sense of emotional stability, so that people feel that they are safe.
“Right now we’ve discussed with our security that we need to have increased presence and visibility,” Guerrero said. “There’s a heightened sense of awareness, of sensitivity to what’s going on essentially with our United States brothers and sisters and we’re all concerned.”
The college has a diaster plan, he explained.
“As of right now we are prepared with a disaster plan. We have a command center in the president’s office,” Guerrero said. “Each administrator has a disaster-preparedness kit.
“I think this is as much an emotional and mental approach to security as it is actual physical (security). We have no reason to believe that there’s a threat to anybody on our campus anymore than usual,” he said.
The main message from all administrators seems to be that they are putting safety first, no matter what may or may not happen. Administrators sent out bulletins Tuesday alerting campus employees of the cancellation of College Night at the Bakersfield Convention Center as well as a women’s volleyball game scheduled for Tuesday evening.
“There are evacuations going on in California in some places,” Meier said. “But in Bakersfield, for the time being, we are just trying to maintain a state of calm alertness.”
Counseling is available to any student or faculty member. Guerrero insists that students need time to cope with the tragedy.
“It’s difficult to go about the daily work of teaching and learning when such occurrences happen,” he said. “I have supreme confidence in the students that attend Bakersfield College in terms of their retaining focus. I absolutely don’t look for any student attempting to replicate this insane action.
“Coping is going to be more difficult for some individuals, whether faculty or students. And that’s why we want to make our counseling staff available,” he said.