Silhouette

Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Jason Rose An Emergency Call Phone located between the Penka Building and the Beth Tedrow Student Center is currently out of order.

Five school shootings since August and the recent abduction and murder of a Vermont college co-ed have some on campus asking "Are we safe?"

For Andrea Grieve, a Goodland, Kan., freshman, transitioning to life on a college campus has been an eye-opener.

"I come from a small town and being here is a shock," Grieve said. "It's pretty secure, but I don't walk around alone."

Grieve said she uses common sense and has experienced the precautions high schools have instituted in response to school violence.

"We had drug dogs come and we couldn't wear baggy clothes," Grieve said. "In college no one cares what you wear or carry. It would be easy to bring in a gun."

Given the open climate on campus, Carol Ballantyne, college president, acknowledges there are issues the college needs to address.

Although there are four emergency phones on campus, not all of them are operational.

"I am aware of the [emergency] poles not working," Ballantyne said. "We are trying to get them fixed."

Ballantyne also said campus security is restricted due to financial limitations.

"There is not enough money for more security officers," Ballantyne said.

Ballantyne said she realizes that the college's crisis plan is not up to date. Ballantyne said college officials plan to review the crisis plan and student handbook. She said she anticipates the review will provide the college community with a better plan of how to respond to a crisis situation.

"There's no real plan of how to inform others on campus of an emergency situation in a particular building," Ballantyne said. "We should train employees to know what to do in case of an emergency."

While the college's student handbook contains information about what to do in the case of a tornado, fire or bomb threat, there isn't any information in it about what to do if there were a school shooting.

Kevin Brungardt, associate dean of general education, said this is something he plans to look into.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools