Media advisory: SIU plans active threat exercises April 24

April 22, 2024

by Kim Rendfeld

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will hold active threat exercises from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 24, to assess and improve how various teams work together to respond to an emergency.

Unlike other years, the 2024 annual exercises will focus on hours 4 through 8 of an active shooter scenario, continuing from where the team left off in 2023. In the scenario, the threat to public safety has passed, and the university must attend to several tasks, including gathering evidence and investigating the crime, finding new space for displaced students, reunifying students with families, counseling, communications and more.

For most of the campus community, it will be business as usual. They may notice more activity in the Student Center and more messages from the university.

Ben Newman, director of public safety and chief of police, will be available for interviews with journalists in person, by phone or via Zoom or Microsoft Teams between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. To make arrangements, text or call Jeff Harmon, chief communications and marketing officer, at 573-352-0035.