National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Summit set for Jan. 26-28

The University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) will hold the 3rd annual National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Summit Jan. 26-28 at the Southern Miss Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach.

“The recent tragedies in Paris reiterate the need for further developing a safety and security baseline for stadiums and collegiate events,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, director of NCS4. “The goal of the National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Summit is to develop strategies to implement best practices by addressing major safety and security issues through input from the country's best professionals in the field of intercollegiate athletics.”

The Summit will serve as the only annual combined meeting for personnel responsible for safety and security management at collegiate sports events at NCAA Division I, II and III institutions, as well as athletic conferences and college football bowls. 

Invitees include representatives from athletic departments and athletic conferences, as well as bowl administrators and staff, campus law enforcement, first responders, and security companies responsible for providing contract services.

Summit highlights include keynote speakers and panel discussions covering topics such as “Preparing for an Active Shooter or Large Scale Incident on Your Campus,” “Rushing the Court” and “Proper Weather Protocols.”

The Active Shooter presentation will be led by Jennifer Gant, Supervisory Special Agent, Program Manager of the Campus Liaison Program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Katherine Schweit, Chief of the Active Shooter Section, Office of Partner Engagement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Proper Weather Protocol presentation will be led by Gerard Arrotti, ESPN Senior Director of Safety, Health and Systems; SPSG Board Member Robert Carney, associate athletic director for operations at Boise State University; and Charlie Woodrum, NOAA, National Weather Service.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in moderated discussions (round robin) within the following topic areas:

• Event Day Planning
• Crowd Dynamics/Management
• Emergency Action Planning
• Risk and Threat Assessment
• Staff Development and Performance
• Technology Use/Information Management

Attendance cost for the Summit is $255 per person. Seating is limited. For more information visit www.ncs4.com/intercollegiate.

About NCS4
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi supports the advancement of sport safety and security through training, professional development, academic programs and research. NCS4 collaborates with professional leagues, open access events, intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics, along with professional associations, private sector firms, and government agencies. It is a critical resource for sport venue managers, event managers, first responders, and other key stakeholders.