2008 Woodie Awards
Proposed solutions to enhance campus security in aftermath of Virginia Tech. shooting
4/21/07
Luis Orozco
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Special Bulletin
- Page 1 of 1
District officials are discussing methods to ensure a safe environment at each college, including camera surveillance and text messaging systems.
Safety is always a concern among faculty and staff, and the events that transpired at Virginia Tech only reinforce that concern. "Unfortunately, every time a disaster like this happens you have to ask yourself, "OK what if it happened here? Do we have the procedures and policies in place?" And we do but it's time to update them," said Michael Claire, president of CSM.
The district will use $675 million granted through a bond issue approved by voters for campus improvements, said Virgil Stanford, dean of administrative services, though the amount of money allocated to security is unknown.
One proposed idea involves the installation of a text messaging system that would send alerts to students' cell phones. Advantages of this system include the wide-spread usage of cell phones, and the quickness and ease with which the alerts can be sent out. "It's the technology that students use," said Stanford.
Such a system, though, requires a huge database to keep track of student phone numbers. Also, not every student carries a cell phone. "However, if we were even able to text to 40 percent of our students, if you're in a classroom, somebody's going to get it and would be able to be that means of communication to other students," said Barbara Christensen, district community and government relations director.
Other plans under consideration involve a camera surveillance system to be utilized at all three campuses in the district. The cameras would likely be placed at key points on campus such as entrances and exits. Cañada College, for example, plans to setup between six and ten cameras, she said. "The video surveillance will give us the opportunity to be able to observe what's going on… so at least we could come up with a license plate, a type of car, or some other identifiable information," said Christensen.
Importantly, these plans have been in development for months prior to the Virginia Tech shootings.
Several security updates have already been made to CSM. For instance, the newer buildings have been fitted with electronic doors that can be remotely locked. Also, improvements were made to the fire hydrant system, and even the placement of lights has been studied, said Stanford.
"One of the issues is our ability to notify students and teachers quickly. Text messaging might be a solution but we have to look at a bunch of other solutions," said Claire.
Safety is always a concern among faculty and staff, and the events that transpired at Virginia Tech only reinforce that concern. "Unfortunately, every time a disaster like this happens you have to ask yourself, "OK what if it happened here? Do we have the procedures and policies in place?" And we do but it's time to update them," said Michael Claire, president of CSM.
The district will use $675 million granted through a bond issue approved by voters for campus improvements, said Virgil Stanford, dean of administrative services, though the amount of money allocated to security is unknown.
One proposed idea involves the installation of a text messaging system that would send alerts to students' cell phones. Advantages of this system include the wide-spread usage of cell phones, and the quickness and ease with which the alerts can be sent out. "It's the technology that students use," said Stanford.
Such a system, though, requires a huge database to keep track of student phone numbers. Also, not every student carries a cell phone. "However, if we were even able to text to 40 percent of our students, if you're in a classroom, somebody's going to get it and would be able to be that means of communication to other students," said Barbara Christensen, district community and government relations director.
Other plans under consideration involve a camera surveillance system to be utilized at all three campuses in the district. The cameras would likely be placed at key points on campus such as entrances and exits. Cañada College, for example, plans to setup between six and ten cameras, she said. "The video surveillance will give us the opportunity to be able to observe what's going on… so at least we could come up with a license plate, a type of car, or some other identifiable information," said Christensen.
Importantly, these plans have been in development for months prior to the Virginia Tech shootings.
Several security updates have already been made to CSM. For instance, the newer buildings have been fitted with electronic doors that can be remotely locked. Also, improvements were made to the fire hydrant system, and even the placement of lights has been studied, said Stanford.
"One of the issues is our ability to notify students and teachers quickly. Text messaging might be a solution but we have to look at a bunch of other solutions," said Claire.
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