Kennesaw State University officials respond to the Virginia Tech tragedy‚ hold campus forums to address concerns of students‚ faculty and staff
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (April 20‚ 2007) — Kennesaw State University officials are continuing to respond on…
Georgia (Apr 20, 2007) — Kennesaw State University officials respond to the Virginia Tech tragedy‚ hold campus forums to address concerns of students‚ faculty and staff
Jeremy Craig
Abstract
Contact: Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770−423−6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu
Writer: Jeremy Craig‚ 770−423−6203 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (April 20‚ 2007) — Kennesaw State University officials are continuing
to respond on multiple fronts to the tragic shootings that took place at Virginia
Tech on Monday‚ expressing their condolences for the many lives lost in the deadly
shootings‚ taking steps to address the university’s ability to ensure the safety of
KSU students‚ faculty and staff‚ and‚ most recently‚ holding forums for the campus
community to address their concerns.
“We express our deepest condolences to our colleagues at Virginia Tech‚” President
Daniel S. Papp stated. “This is a very sad time in higher education‚ and in our history
as a nation‚ because of the tragic loss of life that has been experienced on the Virginia
Tech campus. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those families who have lost
their loved ones in this tragedy.”
ADDRESSING CONCERNS
Several members of the university administration participated in two public forums
hosted by the Taskforce on Interpersonal Violence at KSU Thursday to address concerns
of the campus community in the wake of the horrific shootings that occurred on Monday.
The taskforce is committed to supporting comprehensive services for students‚ faculty
and staff who have been victims of violence‚ and to preventing further violence from
occurring.
The first “Responding to Virginia Tech” meeting was held Thursday afternoon in the
Social Sciences Building Auditorium‚ where more than 200 concerned students‚ faculty
and staff attended. University officials fielded numerous questions from attendees
about campus safety and security.
A second‚ smaller meeting was held at 9 p.m. Thursday at University Village residential
housing‚ attracting about 20 students who discussed several campus safety issues with
a body of KSU officials.
PREVENTION AND PREPARATION
As news of Monday’s developments unfolded‚ President Papp immediately directed the
university’s cabinet to address the aftermath and implications of the Virginia Tech
shootings‚ to assess the university’s present emergency preparedness and communications
capabilities‚ as well as any needed improvements.
Prior to Monday’s horrific acts at Virginia Tech‚ campus officials already had taken
key steps to avert such a tragic scenario from occurring on the KSU campus‚ or to
enhance the university’s ability to respond effectively in the event of such an unfortunate
scenario.
KSU’s Department of Public Safety is working integrally with KSU administrators to
expand the university’s capabilities to expediently respond to a similar incident
if it were to occur here on campus‚ said Ted Cochran‚ director of the department.
While KSU has mass e−mail capabilities to inform the campus about emergencies‚ a key
point of discussion is introducing new technologies to communicate with the KSU community
through the use of “mass notification systems.” In addition to currently deployed
e−mail blasts‚ these new systems would allow KSU officials to inform the campus community
via cell−phone−blast text messages‚ land−line telephone−voice−mail blasts‚ pagers
and other communications systems about emergencies that require immediate protective
action to be taken – including human−caused and natural disasters.
Such systems’ hardware and software will be housed off−campus‚ so that if campus infrastructure
is damaged‚ the systems could still send out emergency notifications‚ said Kemper
Anderson‚ assistant director of KSU’s Department of Public Safety. Other options being
explored include a “civil−defense type siren system‚” which would broadcast campus
wide to signal an emergency in progress.
In addition to addressing current and proposed tactics to effectively communicate
emergency situations on campus‚ KSU officials also are focused on the preparedness
of the university’s law enforcement and security operation.
Kennesaw State has a strong preventive police presence on campus‚ with 26 certified
and sworn police officers who are well−trained to exercise their judgment to mitigate
crimes on campus.
In fact‚ after Monday’s shootings were publicized through the national news media‚
KSU’s police officers were dispatched to high−traffic areas of campus‚ where large
numbers of students‚ staff and faculty congregate‚ according to Kemper Anderson‚ assistant
director of public safety.
On another preventive front‚ KSU officials strictly enforce Georgia’s “no guns” policy
on campus. The statute (O.C.G.A. 16−11−127.1) prohibits the carrying or possession
of weapons on any school campus‚ including colleges and universities.
Additionally‚ security cameras are in place at key‚ strategic areas on campus where
there is high−volume student traffic. These cameras are monitored diligently by KSU
police.
All of KSU’s 26 sworn police officers annually receive eight hours of “force−on−force
active shooter training” to deal with situations like the one that occurred at Virginia
Tech.
Anderson said the KSU police department also has a very strong relationship with the
Cobb County Police Department‚ in addition to other local police and fire departments.
Staff from KSU’s Counseling‚ Advising‚ & Program Services (CAPS) also are trained
to respond and assist police in emergency situations involving people who are mentally
ill.
Also‚ in January‚ President Papp approved the creation of a new position‚ an assistant
vice president for strategic security and safety. The new appointee‚ Robert Lang‚
will join the university in May‚ reporting to KSU Vice President of Operations Randy
Hinds.
STAYING SAFE
After Monday’s shooting incident in Virginia‚ KSU police also responded to requests
from faculty members and others to address personal safety on campus.
Cochran and Anderson offered important advice to students‚ faculty‚ staff and other
members of the KSU community in order to help prevent tragedies from ever occurring
on campus.
The most important piece of advice is to pay attention to your surroundings‚ Anderson
said.
Students who live on campus should be extremely mindful of who is provided access
into the residence halls‚ erring on the side of caution and placing safety above courtesy.
Another important piece of advice is to let police know if anything suspicious is
happening on campus.
Suspicious activities should be reported to the police‚ who will investigate. The
public can contact KSU police by calling 770−423−6666‚ using any one of the emergency
telephone kiosks across campus. Additionally‚ the public can e−mail tips to the police
department’s command staff (listed at www.kennesaw.edu/police) or call the confidential tipster line at 770−423−6305.
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A member of the 35−unit University System of Georgia‚ Kennesaw State University is
a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population approaching
20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State
offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate
in education.
MORE NEWS…
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
