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We had a shooting today on campus.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/ ... 73794.html

Here's what I sent the big boys at work, to thank them for last summer's training:

I teach one day a week at UNCC, and it happens to be Tuesdays. Thanks to Sergeant Kopp's training last summer, we knew what to do tonight when the alert came out.

We were in our classroom early and chatting. When the alert came out, one student wanted to run, and we said Godspeed. Because of where the classroom is (a basement), the rest of us felt safer there than out in public. We barricaded the doors with tables and chairs, and finally remembered to turn off the lights. If the bad guy came, Hayden was going for the eyes and throat while I punched him in the 'nads. Jennifer was our communications specialist, keeping up with tweets and emails from the school and others.

Thanks to Sergeant Kopp, we felt empowered and ready to do battle.

Three hours later, though, we were ready to pee (we had designated a corner of the room for this, but it never got that far!).

I'm glad to hear you got through that okay. I'm sure it must have been a scary situation.

Good grief Skoop.

I'm glad to hear you're OK and that you knew what to do.

Gahhhh! I'm happy you're safe and for presence of m8nds. omg

I knew you taught a class there but was hoping it was not one scheduled for last night and that you were safe. I am sorry to see that you had to go through that ordeal but am very very happy to know that the most important of the two hopes was fulfilled.

I also congratulate you on keeping a cool head and having a plan. In all honesty I am not entirely sure that peeing in the corner would've been a relevant option, as there would've been a 50/50 chance I would've already wet myself at the onset of trouble

If you have to pee in a corner, be sure to pick one with a trash bucket in it.

Omg Skoop. Happy you are safe!

Glad you're safe. It makes a huge difference to have a plan.

I was able to grade the big projects several days early so that folks could decide whether they want to take the final exam next week.

I had already set it up this way, but the university is telling us to arrange it so that students can accept the grade they have now, or if they want to improve it, they can take the final. In my course, the last test is worth 10% of the total, so about 5-6 people in each class of 40 are in a position where it would help them go up a letter grade.

Before I posted everything, one student asked if he could go on home (it's about three hours) because his parents wanted to see him. I said to get moving and hug them, and we would figure out about the test later.

I'm hoping folks come to the exam period anyway, just to visit and check in, but if they have a chance to go home early, they should take it.

I'm glad you are ok and that you had the training, but I'm sad that there was yet another shooting and you had to use said training. I'm not sure my training would have stayed in my head at the sound of gunfire

It's a big campus and we were 5-6 buildings away from the scene, so we didn't hear anything, deep in our basement room. We felt pretty safe, though we did get amped up a few times when people walked by the door. Then we heard their walkie-talkies and could breathe again.

Ritterskoop wrote:It's a big campus and we were 5-6 buildings away from the scene, so we didn't hear anything, deep in our basement room. We felt pretty safe, though we did get amped up a few times when people walked by the door. Then we heard their walkie-talkies and could breathe again.

I'm glad you're okay.

Did you by any chance know Riley Howell, the student who apparently knocked the gunman off his feet, buying time for others at the cost of his own life? --Bob

I look forward to learning more about Riley. They took him home today. Mom said that is not how a college kid is supposed to be going home. It is clearly because of him that we lost two rather than 15.

My other new favorite student is Emily Houpt, who was scheduled to graduate next weekend, and will. She is one of the four who were injured.

I have no connection to any of the students involved, though as we've said, with 29,000 students, odds are against any one of us knowing any other one. My class was to start at 6:30, and that class would have let out at 6:15, so it's possible I had 1-2 in there and just don't know it yet.

I just checked; that class ran from 530-645, so none of my night class kids could be in it. I guess I could still know someone from my 230 class in there.

EDIT: There were 94 students registered, and I don't know any of them.

I have been reading about that courageous young man. His parents said he radiated love. Brings me to tears.

Riley and Reed will both get posthumous degrees, and Riley may receive a military honor (he was in ROTC).

Ritterskoop wrote:Riley and Reed will both get posthumous degrees, and Riley may receive a military honor (he was in ROTC).

Based on what I've been reading, it does seem that he gave his life in the finest traditions of the service. I'm glad his sacrifice had some benefit. --Bob

Ritterskoop wrote:Riley and Reed will both get posthumous degrees, and Riley may receive a military honor (he was in ROTC).

Young hero Riley Howell is to be buried with full military honors.

UNC Charlotte Student Killed While Tackling Shooter Will Receive Military Honors