MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Northern Michigan University’s new president Brock Tessman released a statement Tuesday morning following the shooting that took place on the campus of Michigan State University.
In the statement, Tessman offers support to the MSU community, as well as any support or help that NMU students may need help while on campus.
Tessman also addressed a question about the alert system that was used on MSU’s campus during the shooting, reassuring the community that NMU does have a system in place that is similar. He also said that there are multiple channels and ways that the university can share information and alerts in emergency situations.
He also said that the NMU Police Department regularly trains for many different kinds of emergency situations, including active shooter situations.
Read the full statement below:
NMU Community,
We are in shock and sorrow after Monday night’s (Feb. 13) campus shooting at Michigan State University. We stand ready to support the MSU community in any way we can. It is hard to imagine the fear and trauma that MSU students, faculty and staff are experiencing, especially those on campus last night. It is impossible to truly comprehend the pain of the victim’s families.Many of us at NMU have family, colleagues and friends who are part of the MSU community and I want to recognize that our own campus is thus directly and indirectly affected by this horrific act of violence. If you need assistance due to this incident, do not hesitate to reach out. Students can receive support from the Dean of Students Office (dso@nmu.edu, 906-227-1700) and NMU Counseling Center (ccs@nmu.edu, 906-227-2980), and employees can reach out to Human Resources (hr@nmu.edu, 906-227-2330) or the Northstar Employee Assistance Program. Additional resources are listed on the NMU wellbeing website. Do not hesitate to talk to someone; it is understandable that we are all left feeling unsettled by this. Let’s be ready to help each other process, and heal.
I have been asked if Northern has an alert system such as what was used on the MSU campus during this crisis and the answer is yes, we do. Everyone is automatically registered into the system when they arrive at Northern. However, you can enter additional cell phone numbers, if you choose. You can learn more about it here.
In addition to the NMU alerts, in campus emergency situations Northern uses its wide array of social media channels, web pages, campus-wide email, indoor and outdoor facility monitors, laptop messaging system, WNMU-TV Channel 13, the B-R-R-R line (906-227-2777), and the PA messaging system that is available in some NMU facilities to share information about what action you should take. Northern also notifies all local media. NMU has information on what to do in an active shooter situation on its Emergency Guidelines and Safety Protocols web page found at www.nmu.edu/emergency.
The NMU Police Department regularly trains for all kinds of university emergencies, including active shooter situations. The NMU PD also offers training to university departments. If a unit is interested in updating its training, call 906-227-2151.
It’s difficult to make sense of such a senseless act, but we can take action by being even more vigilant in our care for each other, in our campus safety precautions here at NMU, and with outreach to those we know at MSU.
Brock Tessman, NMU President
