Pulsating sirens blared around the Hamline University campus. An automated voice blasted through a speakerphone, prompting all on campus to take shelter. Waking up to these sudden and unexpected sirens was, for most, confusing and unsettling.

“Because it was the tornado [alert] first, my mind immediately… went to pull up the weather alert,” Jada Bennett, illustrator for the Oracle and new first-year, said. “But the forecast was clear. [I was] a little startled, but mainly, though, I was a little irritated…”

The sirens, of course, were part of the systems that Hamline uses for certain emergencies, like tornadoes. They suddenly began to sound on Friday morning, Sept. 28, without notice.

Shortly after, an email was sent out by Melinda Heikkinen, Director of Hamline Public Safety, stating that the Public Safety’s new audible alarm system’s “main audio speakers were not disengaged as intended” and that a text message on the Hamline ALERT system was sent out “once the error occurred.”

The siren did not just affect the students of Hamline, though. The partner of a student, who asked to remain anonymous, explained the effects the drills had on them as well.

“My girlfriend texted me, freaking out and scared. I was worried a bit when she texted, but she later texted me telling me it was all an accident… I was scared but glad she was safe.”

Like Bennett and other students, the unexpected sirens caused confusion. Some students were confused about what to do during such emergencies.

“I would probably try to follow [Hamline’s] lead and… get to a safe, indoor location,” Bennett said, when asked what to do in the event of an emergency.

While this is good general advice, Todd Jones, Associate Director of Hamline Public Safety, has better suggestions to those on campus.

“[For a tornado,] find the lowest point in the building with no windows, preferably bathrooms. Really, just find the strongest point of the building.”

For major emergencies, Jones has pertinent advice for every location.

“For a campus lockdown, stay where you are,” Jones said. “Lock the doors… and stack desks in front of the door and stay away from windows. Stay where you are and wait for law enforcement to arrive.” If outside during such an alert, Jones recommends finding the safest and nearest space possible to hide.

For minor emergencies, such as small, contained fires, Jones reminds everyone that there are fire extinguishers located in most buildings on campus but to call the proper authorities as soon as possible, despite the severity. For larger fires, Jones reaffirms an old phrase: stop, drop and roll.

“With active flames, it is often the smoke that kills… heat travels up. Keep low to the ground and evacuate the building immediately.”

However, it is not enough to just be safe during emergencies. Safety is a concern for everyday life.

“Don’t make yourself a target,” Jones said. “Walk in pairs, don’t be predictable and stay near lit areas.” Jones also recommends not using your phone or listening to music while walking.

Hamline Public Safety assures students that they will notify campus before testing the systems in the future.