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Administrators examine policies |
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Thursday, 19 April 2007 |
by CHRIS ZALUSKI
Associate Editor for Editorial Content
by MILLIE TOLLESON
News Reporter
In the wake of the Virginia Tech University shooting that claimed the lives of 33 students and faculty members, administrators at Appalachian State University are examining policies of their own.
From
University Police to Counseling and Psychological Services, offices
around campus are implementing policies to ensure students’ safety and
well being.
Immediately following news of the tragedy, Counseling and Psychological
Services released a pamphlet titled, “Virginia Tech Tragedy: Where do I
go from here? What do I do?”
The sheet gives tips on how to cope with news of the incident.
“The bottom line is it’s our job to try to help the mental health of the student body,” services Director Dan L. Jones said.
Jones said Counseling and Psychological Services contacted Residence
Life as well as sent out a campuswide e-mail to try and facilitate
discussion.
“When something like this happens, some people are going to be angry, “Jones said. “It’s really better to talk to somebody.”
He acknowledges it is helpful to watch or read information about the
shootings, but said watching TV clips over and over again is “not
particularly good for you.”
University Police Chief Gunther E. Doerr offered thoughts and prayers
to the students, staff, faculty and police at Virginia Tech.
Doerr said University Police is reviewing policies and “seeing how they would fit if we had a similar scenario at Appalachian.”
Doerr said University Police frequently trains with both the Town of
Boone Police Department and Watauga County Sheriff’s Office.
One regular training session is “responding to an active shooter.”
Doerr said another session is likely to be scheduled for May or June.
To alleviate student concerns, University Police plan to have staffing at 100 percent to make sure they have good visibility.
“I have gotten many calls today from students and parents voicing their
concerns. Anything we can do to alleviate those concerns, we’ll do,”
Doerr said.
Cindy A. Wallace, vice chancellor for Student Development, said the
university’s current emergency management plan is under constant review
by the Safety Committee, which meets once a month.
Wallace said administrators spent all day Tuesday assessing where Appalachian stands in its emergency plan.
“We feel like we’re ahead,” Wallace said. “[But] we don’t feel like we’ve accomplished everything we want to accomplish.”
The current plan is a “tree plan” meaning communication would start
with Doerr, then branch out to administrators and then to various
department’s “operations people,” Wallace said.
Doerr said he is not worried about something happening at Appalachian
similar to the tragedy at Virginia Tech because there is no information
to suggest a possible threat exists. However, there is always the
potential for a “copycat” situation, Doerr said.
“That is the reason why you review your own plans [immediately after the incident],” Doerr said.
Doerr said information from the community is very effective in preventing incidents.
“We would encourage students not to hesitate, to call the police if
they see anything suspicious, particularly if someone sees a weapon or
a gun on campus,” Doerr said.
Students can call 911 or the anonymous Crimestoppers’ hotline to provide information at 262-4555.
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