The administration initiated Code Blue after discovering a smell of gas on campus, and the procedure lasted for more than an hour, during which students and staff were to remain secure in classrooms. Students around campus found themselves in a variety of different situations.

Sophomore Carmen Annevelink was in the theater with her Spanish class for the History Week presentation when Code Blue started.

“I was in the theater listening to a History Week talk about domestic violence and human trafficking,” Carmen said. “Having the Code Blue then was not bad because our speaker was very enthusiastic, insightful and interesting.  However, because we were in the theater for the extra hour we could not do any of our homework like other classes were able to do.”

Sophomore Dean Gustafson has a free second period. He was not on campus when the Code Blue was announced.

“I went home and then was rushing to get back because usually it was the passing period after brunch so I was in a hurry,” Dean said. “I was very confused because I showed up in the parking lot and nobody was at their cars. Then at the gate the security guard told me that we were on lockdown, which I thought meant there was some sort of massacre going on.”

The security guard then told Dean to go to the library. At the library, Dean received more information, which helped alleviate his worries.

“[I] found out that it was Code Blue so it was relieving,” Dean said. “I waited for 30 minutes until they said it was okay.”

Sophomore Bronwyn Thomas was caught in a similar situation. She arrived at school late because of a medical appointment.

“When I walked into the office they signed me in and told me I couldn’t go to my class because there was a Code Blue,” Bronwyn said. “They didn’t want people walking around the school so I had to just sit in the office for 45 minutes.”

For safety reasons Bronwyn was not allowed to leave the office. Because of her location, she was able to get a close view of the administration’s actions. While students in classrooms had to wait to be updated via speakers and emails, Bronwyn was able to observe the situation right in front of her.

“It was kind of cool because I could hear everything that was going on, with people having to leave and things that were said over the walkie-talkie,” Bronwyn said. “Teachers were asking if they could take students to the bathroom. [Assistant Principal Cristy] Dawson had to move all of the kids in the [Culinary Arts] Class in case an open flame would catch on the gas, I think.”