1 day Ago By Wes Brooks
In April Augustana College held a full-scale emergency preparedness drill in partnership with local law enforcement and first responders. It simulated what we all hope we never experience: an armed assailant on a college campus. Students participated in a campuswide lockdown.
Offices in a central building were closed. Police and emergency crews moved throughout campus in real time. It was not easy.
It was not comfortable. But it was essential. As someone who has worked in student life for more than two decades and who now serves as chair of Augustana’s Emergency Planning Task Force, I believe that drills like these are acts of care.
They are a commitment to readiness. They are a reflection of how deeply we value the trust students and families place in us. College students today are navigating a world that is increasingly uncertain.
Our job is to ensure they feel safe — not only physically, but emotionally, socially and spiritually. This requires an all-hazards approach, one that integrates not just physical response protocols, but wellness, sense of belonging and communication. I’ve seen firsthand how the most powerful moments in higher education often come outside the classroom.
Whether it’s a student in a leadership role, a resident assistant supporting a peer or a team coming together in the face of a challenge, the non-academic experiences shape who students become. That includes how they respond to adversity. That’s why preparation matters.
That’s why we practice. On behalf of Augustana College, I want to thank the Rock Island Police Department, Rock Island Fire and all of our regional partners. I also want to thank our students, faculty and staff for their grace and seriousness during this drill.
The truth is, most of the time, campus safety doesn’t look like flashing lights or lockdowns. It looks like training. It looks like checking in.
It looks like listening to a student who’s struggling. It looks like preparing with intention and doing so as a community. Let’s continue this work together — not because we expect the worst, but because our students deserve the best.
Dr. Wes Brooks, Vice President and Dean of Students at Augustana College Dr. Wes Brooks is Vice President and Dean of Students at Augustana College.
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