Hope for the best, prepare for the worst: student safety at RIC

Micah J. Marrapodi

Arts & Entertainment Editor

After a gunman opened fire at Brown University on Dec. 13 2025, students across Rhode Island took notice. At Rhode Island College, the reaction was a mix of shock and concern — and a renewed scrutiny of what campus safety actually looks like here.

“My initial reaction was shock,” said Riley Antonacci, a graduate student pursuing her MA in English. “I always had the mentality that we’re safe, but for this to happen so close to home, it really opens your eyes.”

Maxine Morrell, an undergraduate English major, echoed that sentiment: “I was rather scared it would happen here at RIC given the close proximity between us and Brown.” In the weeks following the shooting, Morrell noticed a slight uptick in police presence on campus, but described the change as “negligible.” After learning that RIC Campus Police officers do not carry firearms, Morrell indicated feeling “less safe” — that in the event of a real incident, unarmed officers would have to wait for local authorities rather than responding directly.

Antonacci, who works in a campus office open to the public, also noted broader structural concerns. “I believe our campus is too open. Anyone could walk into almost any building whenever they please. I think accessibility to buildings could be limited.”

Colonel James J. Mendonca, Director of Security and Safety and Chief of Campus Police, addressed these concerns and more, confirming that officers’ standard-issued equipment includes pepper spray and handcuffs. He described the department’s approach as a “layered response” model emphasizing community-oriented policing, de-escalation and coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.

“Although officers do not carry firearms, they are fully trained and authorized law enforcement professionals,” Mendonca said. He added that “All officers are Rhode Island Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified and are graduates of accredited police academies, meeting the same professional standards required of municipal police officers throughout the state.”

In response to recent national and regional incidents, Mendonca also referenced how RIC has expanded its safety infrastructure, highlighting that the campus currently operates more than 725 security cameras, over 50 Blue Light Emergency Phones and the Flock Automated License Plate Reader system — the same core technology that helped law enforcement identify the suspect in the Brown shooting.

The college has also appointed a full-time Interim Emergency Management Director and is in the process of deploying enhanced building access controls, the Alertus mass notification system and the Rave AppArmor mobile app — which includes silent panic button functionality.

Photo by Anchor Staff

Most visibly, RIC’s Campus Police Department and Department of Emergency Management are now offering open Active Threat/Active Shooter (ATAS) training, with sessions scheduled for March 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as well as April 7 and 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Clark Science 152. The writing Anchor reporter attended the previous March 5 session. 

The 90-minute, discussion-based training covers situational awareness and the “Run, Hide, Fight” response framework, adapted here as “Avoid, Deny, Defend.” Mendonca emphasized that the training is not new, nor was it introduced in direct response to the Brown incident, but that recent events have prompted the college to expand and publicize these opportunities.

The question of arming campus officers has entered the legislative conversation as well. A press release from the Rhode Island General Assembly outlines legislation introduced by Representative William W. O’Brien — bill 2026-H 7128 — which would mandate public Rhode Island colleges and universities to arm their campus police. Mendonca acknowledged that any change to the department’s armament policy would require action from college administration, the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner or through state legislation and noted that proposals have been introduced in both chambers during the current session.

For now, students are encouraged to register for the remaining ATAS sessions on March 26, April 7 and 21. Space is limited; registration is available via the linked form.