THE UNIVERSITY Board of Visitors approved a plan last week to implement a host of new security measures to protect students and staff around Grounds in light of last spring's shootings at Virginia Tech. In addition to the communicative features added last summer, such as an emergency text-messaging system and the new LCD screens in the Newcomb and Observatory Hill facilities, the new, mostly physical measures ought to greatly improve security for University students. Neither will work, however, unless the information-spreading technology and the physical security measures can be used to function in tandem.
According to the Daily Progress, the improvements endorsed by the Board include doors that can be locked from the inside to protect students and staff from external threats. Another improvement involves special doors for buildings and corridors that cannot be chained shut; this would prevent any potential shooter from sealing potential victims inside buildings. Another calls for the installation of a loudspeaker system around Grounds with an alarm siren. Finally, University Police have been working on an "active shooter" drill to prepare for such an emergency situation.
All of these measures are well-designed, and comprise a major step toward keeping students safe in case of an emergency such as that of last April, but none are completely comprehensive. These measures added together significantly improve the collective security of the student body. The most important step taken by the University has been the text messaging alert system. Second to this is the program training police in responding to emergency situations.
The text-message alert system is by far the most significant advancement in University security. Because most University students own cellular phones and seem to be attached to them at the hip, it makes sense to utilize these as a first step in protecting students. Cell phones also have the advantage of being useful all across Grounds, whereas a loudspeaker system might not work, for example, in the basement of a library or for students wearing headphones. The main drawback to the text-messaging system is that it is voluntary, placing the impetus on the student to sign up for the program. All University students ought to sign up for this program -- the hassle is minimal, and the risk of not receiving such alerts is too great to pass over.
In an emergency situation communications are less than half the battle. It does one little good to know what is going on if one is powerless to stop it or in a position exposed to physical harm. Think about where you spend most of your days around Grounds. If that favorite spot of yours happened to be under attack, would you be in a position to do anything about it or to flee even if you knew something was happening? Many University locations, particularly the libraries and certain class buildings, are especially exposed in that access in and out can be extremely limited.
This is why the response of the University police and other security forces is especially important. Special doors are all well and good, but they provide at best a delaying tactic. For example, in a classroom on the fourth or fifth floor of New Cabell Hall, there is only one way out for students, and if that is not safe, then they are stuck until the cavalry arrives. Text messages informing such exposed students would not be of much use, however helpful they might be to the rest of the student body. The response of law enforcement officers would be crucial in saving the lives of students.
Fortunately, the University Police are continually improving their response measures to a threat. According to University Police Chief Michael Gibson, police revised their response plans over the summer, and are integrally involved in the addition of the text message and loudspeaker alert systems. Most importantly, the University Police "plan on conducting a drill" for an active shooter scenario, Gibson said. They will execute this drill in conjunction with other regional authorities in the hopes of providing the best response to a potentially deadly scenario. It is encouraging to see this cooperation between University and other local forces, as in a deadly situation this would be essential in saving lives.
No human measures can fully prevent a disaster from befalling any school, and we only hope and pray nothing like that happens at the University. The University has taken many positive steps toward preventing a college tragedy like that of last spring from unfolding on our Grounds, and is looking to take many more. Doing the best they can is all we can ask.
Robby Colby's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at rcolby@cavalierdaily.com.
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