2008 Woodie Awards
Shootings result in increased security
By Brandon Fox
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
University officials are taking precautions to ensure students' safety after the shooting that occurred at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on Monday.
In recent years, the university has taken steps in order to ensure that in the event of an emergency, students, faculty and staff are well prepared to handle the situation.
A year ago, SRU President Robert Smith requested that a Task Force of subject matter experts with the responsibility to update its Emergency Operations Plan be assembled.
The EOP provides guidelines for serious scenarios and provides a plan and course of action for the housing and care of students in the event of a wide range of emergencies the university may encounter.
"Our plan is constantly being reviewed and updated," John Bonando, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said. "We have a team of faculty, staff and police that have helped develop our plan."
The events that took place on the campus of Virginia Tech are in most experts' minds something that cannot be prevented.
"We can't prevent things like Virginia Tech," Bonando said.
"The only thing we can do is be as best prepared as possible. Our goal is to keep our students and staff as safe as can be."
SRU has a highly trained and active police force on campus.
"Our police are state-commissioned; they are no different than the state police," Bonando said.
The university has also developed a Hazard Mitigation Plan to prevent or reduce the long-term risks to life and property from hazards. This, along with the EOP, involves interaction and cooperation from the surrounding communities as well as the state police.
"The police train and prepare for every incident," said Rita Abent, executive director of public relations. "We, as faculty and staff, also prepare for things that might occur here on campus."
The university police take part in Real Time Shooter Training, which puts them into scenarios, such as hostage situations and having a shooter inside a building, that prepares them for events that may transpire.
In recent years, the university has taken steps in order to ensure that in the event of an emergency, students, faculty and staff are well prepared to handle the situation.
A year ago, SRU President Robert Smith requested that a Task Force of subject matter experts with the responsibility to update its Emergency Operations Plan be assembled.
The EOP provides guidelines for serious scenarios and provides a plan and course of action for the housing and care of students in the event of a wide range of emergencies the university may encounter.
"Our plan is constantly being reviewed and updated," John Bonando, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said. "We have a team of faculty, staff and police that have helped develop our plan."
The events that took place on the campus of Virginia Tech are in most experts' minds something that cannot be prevented.
"We can't prevent things like Virginia Tech," Bonando said.
"The only thing we can do is be as best prepared as possible. Our goal is to keep our students and staff as safe as can be."
SRU has a highly trained and active police force on campus.
"Our police are state-commissioned; they are no different than the state police," Bonando said.
The university has also developed a Hazard Mitigation Plan to prevent or reduce the long-term risks to life and property from hazards. This, along with the EOP, involves interaction and cooperation from the surrounding communities as well as the state police.
"The police train and prepare for every incident," said Rita Abent, executive director of public relations. "We, as faculty and staff, also prepare for things that might occur here on campus."
The university police take part in Real Time Shooter Training, which puts them into scenarios, such as hostage situations and having a shooter inside a building, that prepares them for events that may transpire.
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