When a man stood motionless on the main quad at John Carroll University holding what appeared to be a rifle on the morning of Feb. 5, several students and staff members reported the sight to campus police.
The individual, later identified as a cadet participating in a scheduled ROTC leadership lab, was part of a routine training exercise conducted by the university’s army ROTC program. The training typically takes place on Thursday mornings on the Hamlin Quad.
According to JCU Police Chief Jeffery Daberko, the exercise itself was not unusual.
“ROTC usually conducts training on the Hamlin quad on Thursday mornings and has been since the start of the academic year,” Daberko said. “This is the first time this year we have received complaints about the training.”
The incident, however, sparked questions across campus about safety procedures, communication and how training activities involving replica weapons are handled in a public campus space.
In a statement to The Carroll News, Joshua Woodruff, professor of military science at the university, said the exercise was part of the program’s weekly leadership lab. The labs allow cadets to practice field leadership skills they learn in the classroom.
“For everyone’s safety, we inform the John Carroll Police Department of our training ahead of time,” Woodruff said. “Chief Daberko is tracking our training locations and was aware of the training last week.”
Woodruff also clarified that the rifles used during the exercise were not real weapons. According to the statement, the rifles are rubber training replicas designed to simulate military equipment during drills.
“They are made of rubber and have the muzzles clearly marked with yellow paint to distinguish them as training aides,” Woodruff said. Officials stated the equipment contains no ammunition and poses no threat to the campus community.
During the Feb. 5 exercise, the cadet pictured in the original report was playing the role of an opposing force in the training scenario. Woodruff noted that other cadets and instructors were also present in the area during the exercise.
Following the complaints, university officials moved to more clearly communicate when the exercises will occur. On Feb. 25, the College of Arts and Sciences sent a campus-wide notice listing upcoming ROTC battle drill training dates.
The drills will take place between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on select Thursdays on the Hamlin and main quads, including March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2 and April 9.
University leaders said the notice was intended to improve awareness and reduce confusion for students and employees who may encounter the training exercises while crossing campus early in the morning.
The ROTC program maintains that coordination with campus law enforcement remains part of the planning process for each training session.
“We value our partnership with the university and are committed to student safety,” Woodruff said.
With limited green space available for outdoor drills near campus, ROTC staff say the Hamlin Quad remains one of the few locations suitable for the leadership exercises. As a result, similar training activities are expected to continue throughout the semester.
