On March 13 an unidentified woman entered a Fiction Writing I class in Whitehorse Hall and disrupted the lesson by voicing outlandish opinions during class discussion.

This kind of situation can cause students, parents and staff to be concerned with personal safety on campus, personal preparedness and the security procedures in place.

The class, taught by Richard Ives in Whitehorse, was in the middle of discussing a student's work, when the woman raised her hand and proceeded to give her opinion on the work. She talked about how she was a poet, and something about a vendetta in New York.

At first, the class and Ives listened. After she gave a couple odd comments, Ives asked her who she was. She gave her name, and declared that she was "an alumni of murder," when asked what she was doing there, she replied that she could be in the class if she wanted. Ives then told her that she had to leave because she was not registered for the class, and if she didn't, he would call security.

She refused to leave, and security was called. She left before security arrived and without the need for force.

"Our campus is open-access meaning that people can just walk on at anytime," Lt. Marc Tolle said. "Occasionally people will walk in on a class like this, sometimes they're mentally ill, most times they're lost. What we need is for students and staff to call us if you feel uncomfortable," said Tolle. "We have procedure to take care of this as well; we can involve the police."

He said that security was informed that a strange woman was on campus but they did not know her location. "We searched the whole campus, but she was gone," he said.

The situation did not require drastic procedures, and the students said they never felt like they were in danger.

"The rule for unregistered persons in a classroom is that they are not allowed, unless with specific invitation of the instructor, otherwise it's considered a disruption," Tolle clarified.

According to campus security data from the Office of Postsecondary Education, EvCC has had relatively no violent crime for the years of 2006 and 2007. The only records of crime where motor vehicle theft, burglary and robbery. Although if a crisis arises, Tolle says campus security is prepared.

"We have had training exercises with the Everett Police Department to handle things like hostage situations and with active shooter training."

Teachers and students also need to be prepared to do what they feel is right. There are phones in every classroom to facilitate this, and when anyone feels uncomfortable they can call security.

"It really boils down to what people perceive their personal responsibilities to be, as an individual we make a decision about whether or not to let someone know," Jene Ladke, director of campus health, safety and security said.

"Have regards to the safety of the people around you, the safety of yourself, and know the importance of the commitment to notify the proper authorities," he said.

"Are you more worried about personal appearance or safety?"