San Diego State University and other schools discusses emergency preparedness with students in wake of VA Tech shootings | 04.17.2007 | 08:19:44 | Views: 6288 | ID: April 17 '07: In the wake of the fatal shootings at Virginia Tech University on Monday, the campus security response and the spread of that information to the student body and faculty prompted San Diego State University and other academic institutions around the country to address concerns over response and campus security and safety. The LA Times reported, "From UC Santa Barbara to Georgetown University, students planned to gather Monday evening for candlelight vigils or prayer services. ... In California, university police officials said most major campuses had adopted rapidresponse measures and armed campus police with more powerful weapons after the Columbine High School shooting in 1999." At San Diego State University, President Stephen L. Weber wrote in an email to the SDSU community, "Sadly, this type of incident may occur again at other campuses. ... The sobering reality is that it is impossible to completely prevent tragedies such as these, but each of us should be as prepared as possible." To help prepare and inform the SDSU community, Weber said that the school's emergency preparedness website would be central to finding information and news about campus security. According to the LA Times, lessons-learned from the Columbine High School shootings have taught security officials at UC to become more proactive regarding security. Phillip Mullendore, the executive director for the California College and University Police Chiefs Assn. said, "Prior to Columbine it was gather the forces, wait and see, then we'll go after them. ... Now, post Columbine, the tactic is to try and immediately neutralize the shooter. We go after the person immediately with whatever resources we have."
Copyright ©2007 TheBreakingNews.com. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction in part or full without prior written permission.
|