From Deseret News archives:
Utah colleges evaluating safety
Will Virginia Tech rampage lead to revised policies?
"You don't expect it's going to happen on your campus, but this has definitely heightened the awareness for everyone on every campus," said Weber State University President F. Ann Millner. "However, there is no perfect solution."
As is the case in nearly all of Utah's 10 public colleges and universities, Millner said an already-existing emergency-management committee at the university has been discussing new safety measures in light of the emerging details from the deadly shooting spree at Virginia Tech.
Millner said Weber has had a shooting on campus, where a student who was the subject of a disciplinary hearing shot and wounded three people before being fatally wounded by one of his victims, a campus police officer. Student safety was of utmost importance during that incident.
"We will look at the lessons learned from what happened there and update our plan based on learning from their experiences," she said.
University of Utah spokeswoman Coralie Alder said the U. underwent intensive security planning to prepare for the 2002 Winter Games. "We continue to refine that safety and security plan as we go along," she said.
U. President Michael Young earlier this year commissioned a task force that will review campus security policies. That review will likely be accelerated in light of the Virginia Tech massacre, Alder said.
At Southern Utah University, President Michael T. Benson has gone as far as e-mailing the school's emergency plan to every student "to ease their concern," he said.
The policy has also been posted on the school newspaper's Web site. "Students are talking about it. They are asking their teachers about it and faculty is discussing it," he said. "This has caused the whole campus to re-evaluate."
Many colleges and universities in Utah already have safeguards in place to prevent certain emergency situations from getting out of hand. But random acts, such as Monday's shooting massacre, have many institutions re-evaluating.
Comments
- Temperatures to drop, snow possible 4:46 p.m.
- Police: men threatened Orem officer 4:40 p.m.
- Art of medicine can require delays 4:34 p.m.
- Release dying dog from senior work 4:34 p.m.
- 'Evenings at the Museum' Friday 4:33 p.m.
- Venom is potential medicine 4:33 p.m.
- Pavel Haas Quartet eloquent 4:33 p.m.
- Mormon Times briefly 4:30 p.m.
- Mom pleads in child beating 4:26 p.m.
- Man has car stolen, gets stabbed 4:21 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- House passes health care bill
274 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
219 - TCU showdown has big implications
189 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
98
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
Williams needed an excuse as he know's his Jazz are going to get their clock...
I was prescribed the drug. I gained about 50 pounds and fear diabetes. Now...
Those of us who lived near Rick could easily see that he was scamming people....
Everything your wonderfull radio hosts slobbered about the good things repubs...
Anonymous | 4:07 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009 I'll still never rent to them. ...
LIBERALS continue to show HOW IGNORANT they really are, by any...
Hossman...reading isn't your strong suit is it? CHURCHES are e-x-e-m-p-t ...
I don't want to see anyone fall, I would never rejoice in that, but those who...
I didn't see Breck call Reagan "stupid, idiotic, or bumbling" -- just...
["the right to the control of one's own property. That should mean that one...


You can be the first to comment on this story.