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Printer-Friendly ModeNew safety program implemented on campus
September 17, 2007 —
After the deadliest school shooting in America claimed 33 lives last year, universities across the nation have revisited their security protocols, and SVSU is among them.
CampusAlert, a security program being implemented on campus, is a communication system that will alert students' cellular, home, classroom, office and dormitory phones as well as e-mail in the event of an emergency on campus. The new system is similar to what many universities are utilizing after the Virginia Tech massacre and an investigation that revealed the school's inability to warn its students in a timely manner.
"It's never good to think that will never happen here," said University Police Chief Ron Trepkowski. "Hopefully we'll never have to use it for a crisis, but it is there."
Registration for students to sign up for text or voice messages began on Friday. The system will also be used in the event of class cancellations due to weather. There is no charge from the University to sign up, although cellular providers may have fees for incoming messages. Students may sign up online at www.svsu.edu/universitypolice/emergency.
"It is impossible to ensure everyone's safety," said Ronald Portwine, director of auxiliary operations. "We can only take every reasonable step we can."
Portwine said the new program is one of many steps the University is taking.
Many students feel comfortable with the precautions.
"I feel very safe on campus," said criminal justice sophomore Neil Egan.
He sees campus situations arise firsthand as a student dispatcher for the university police and is considering signing up for CampusAlert.
"Our police force does a good job taking care of any problems that come up and deterring others from happening," Egan continued. "Their presence is felt by me both as a student and employee."
Plans for safety training sessions with faculty and staff are also underway.
"It is pro-active," Trepkowski said. "The police are not likely to be the ones there first. They can make a difference until we get there."
The sessions will focus on what to do in an emergency, providing safety techniques and strategies.
Additional security measures include installing locks on classroom doors, setting up an Incident Command Center to coordinate security efforts, practicing safety situations and responses with security staff, fine tuning the crisis management plan, and establishing a crisis management team. Other practices in place or underway include outdoor emergency phones, a concealed weapons policy, a student watch program and others.
The changes that need to be made have been felt by some students.
"I feel safe to an extent on campus," said Karianne Cheney, an elementary education junior and student officer dispatcher. "I feel safe knowing that if something did happen that our officers are well equipped to deal with the matter. I do not feel safe in some of the classrooms though. The doors should be locked."
Cheney also said she plans to use CampusAlert to be aware of what is happening on campus.
"[CampusAlert] is just another piece of the puzzle to keep people safe," Trepkowski said. "We have a safe campus, but it's easy to get lax because it doesn't happen very often."
