In the first two weeks of school, there have been two incidences involving weapons and weapon development on campus.

In the worst-case scenario of an active shooter on campus, City College has taken the necessary steps to ensure student safety. An email was sent Sept. 10 with a video discussing what to do in the event of an active shooter. There was also a link for students to sign up for AlertU, an automated emergency text message system for City College.

“About 3,000 students and faculty are signed up on the [AlertU] list out of 16 to 17 thousand students enrolled,” said Director of Campus Security Eric Fricke.

According to Fricke, knowledge is key.

“I think it’s important [to be informed],” said Fricke. “The more people that think about it, the more prepared they would be if it was to ever happen on campus. Watching the video that was sent out gives very important information on what to do.”

Looking at the different shootings around the country, it is easy to be overwhelmed and worried.

“I wouldn’t say I’m not worried, it’s always something you have to think about,” Fricke said. “But, you have to be prepared if that situation were to ever happen. I’m not walking around scared, thinking it’s going to happen. When in actuality, compared to the amount of schools in the nation, it’s really a small chance.”

City College has taken all the precautions necessary to ensure a safe year. To sign up for AlertU go to www.alertu.org/sbcc. To watch the video “Active Shooter on Campus” go to http://wfs.sbcc.edu/Departments/FRC/security/.

One student brought an airsoft rifle to the Drama/Music Building. Campus Security was called and the student was escorted out of the building and the weapon was confiscated and handed over to SBPD. The student was then escorted to the Dean’s Office for disciplinary action.

In another report, three students were heard discussing how to produce guns using the CAD design software. Theoretically, a student would be able to make a template of an AK-47 using the software, and download it onto a CNC router. They would then be able to print a 3D version of the weapon and produce it, if they had the right materials. This is legal and the parts are accessible.

“One guy already used AutoCAD to make a 3D model of a gun,” said Alex Wong, mechanical engineering major. “You can put that [template] into a CNC router and then put it all together. Then you buy the firing pin. After that, you have a whole automatic weapon.”

“To get the 3D router, it’s only about $300. That’s cheaper than buying a whole gun. Essentially, you can make a whole armory, as many as you want, with $300 plus the materials,” Wong said.

The CAD program does not teach students how to develop such templates.

“We do not teach a course in weapons,” said Armondo Arias del Cid, chairman of drafting/CAD. “Our course is in computer drafting and modeling.”