I'm Famous!!!
Local college officials examine safety plans
By DIANE D'AMICO Education Writer, (609) 272-7241
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Drew Tedeschi walked out of Richard Stockton College on Tuesday, cell phone in hand.
Had there been an emergency, his phone would have been the best way to reach him.
If Stockton started an emergency notification system using cell phones, would Tedeschi be interested?
“I'd definitely sign up,” he said.
As they watched the tragedy at Virginia Tech unfold Monday, college officials in the area considered not just what was happening there, but how they might respond in a similar situation.
One theme that arose at each college was how to quickly notify and give instructions to a large number of students and staff dispersed over a wide area.
“The emergency notification system was a big issue at Virginia Tech, and would be for us,” said Timothy Michener, Rowan University's director of public safety. “Right now there is no way for us to get in touch with students who might be en route to campus. “
No local college is as large as the 26,000-student Virginia Tech. But all have hundreds of students who commute every day and might be difficult to reach quickly in a crisis.
Michener said he saw a cell phone-based system at a conference last week in Atlantic City and thinks that might be a good idea.
“If we can get the students to register their cell phones, so we could get them instant notification, I'd want that,” he said.
A number of public school districts in the area already use automated systems to send messages to parents. Atlantic Cape Community College started a text-alert service last year for which students and staff can register.
“Enrollment for the service has been growing,” ACCC President Peter Mora said. “We use it mostly for things like weather-related closings, but it would be useful in any crisis situation.”
All local county and four-year colleges have systems in place to post messages on their Web sites and notify students by e-mail or on-campus phones. All were reviewing those procedures Tuesday.
“You have to put yourself in their position,” Michener said of the Virginia Tech officials. “We rehearsed what we would be doing in their place.”
College officials said the chance of actually preventing an assault on a public college campus would be low, especially if the shooter were a student who would have passcard access to otherwise restricted buildings.
“We have three campuses and they all have an open environment,” Mora said. “They are designed specifically to be welcoming and accessible to the public.”
What the colleges do focus on is quick and effective response. All colleges have security, and Stockton and Rowan have their own campus police.
New Jersey colleges were also included in the state's homeland security plans and have procedures in place for emergencies. Cumberland County College sent an e-mail to employees Tuesday reminding them of those procedures.
Stockton implemented a new plan in 2004 and has held annual countywide meetings on emergency topics that have included a severe storm, a fire and a hostage situation.
“You try to plan for every scenario,” Stockton spokesman Tim Kelly said. “We fill up Townsend Hall for this every year. It's taken very seriously.”
He said Stockton has collegewide e-mail and phone access to the dorms and can activate the televisions inside classrooms to distribute a message.
Stockton is also looking into an automated cell phone-notification system. That idea was popular with students interviewed Tuesday who said they often come to school straight from work, or don't live on campus, and might not otherwise get news quickly.
“I don't always check my e-mail before I come here,” said Amy Corbet, a senior from Toms River.
Kristen DiVario, of Deptford, said while not everyone has text-messaging capability, most students have cell phones they check regularly.
Tedeschi said the Virginia Tech issue did come up in class and one professor said he might start locking the classroom door for extra protection.
“I have friends at Virginia Tech,” he said. “This does hit close to home.”
Stockton plans a memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My picture was in the real paper...
By DIANE D'AMICO Education Writer, (609) 272-7241
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Drew Tedeschi walked out of Richard Stockton College on Tuesday, cell phone in hand.
Had there been an emergency, his phone would have been the best way to reach him.
If Stockton started an emergency notification system using cell phones, would Tedeschi be interested?
“I'd definitely sign up,” he said.
As they watched the tragedy at Virginia Tech unfold Monday, college officials in the area considered not just what was happening there, but how they might respond in a similar situation.
One theme that arose at each college was how to quickly notify and give instructions to a large number of students and staff dispersed over a wide area.
“The emergency notification system was a big issue at Virginia Tech, and would be for us,” said Timothy Michener, Rowan University's director of public safety. “Right now there is no way for us to get in touch with students who might be en route to campus. “
No local college is as large as the 26,000-student Virginia Tech. But all have hundreds of students who commute every day and might be difficult to reach quickly in a crisis.
Michener said he saw a cell phone-based system at a conference last week in Atlantic City and thinks that might be a good idea.
“If we can get the students to register their cell phones, so we could get them instant notification, I'd want that,” he said.
A number of public school districts in the area already use automated systems to send messages to parents. Atlantic Cape Community College started a text-alert service last year for which students and staff can register.
“Enrollment for the service has been growing,” ACCC President Peter Mora said. “We use it mostly for things like weather-related closings, but it would be useful in any crisis situation.”
All local county and four-year colleges have systems in place to post messages on their Web sites and notify students by e-mail or on-campus phones. All were reviewing those procedures Tuesday.
“You have to put yourself in their position,” Michener said of the Virginia Tech officials. “We rehearsed what we would be doing in their place.”
College officials said the chance of actually preventing an assault on a public college campus would be low, especially if the shooter were a student who would have passcard access to otherwise restricted buildings.
“We have three campuses and they all have an open environment,” Mora said. “They are designed specifically to be welcoming and accessible to the public.”
What the colleges do focus on is quick and effective response. All colleges have security, and Stockton and Rowan have their own campus police.
New Jersey colleges were also included in the state's homeland security plans and have procedures in place for emergencies. Cumberland County College sent an e-mail to employees Tuesday reminding them of those procedures.
Stockton implemented a new plan in 2004 and has held annual countywide meetings on emergency topics that have included a severe storm, a fire and a hostage situation.
“You try to plan for every scenario,” Stockton spokesman Tim Kelly said. “We fill up Townsend Hall for this every year. It's taken very seriously.”
He said Stockton has collegewide e-mail and phone access to the dorms and can activate the televisions inside classrooms to distribute a message.
Stockton is also looking into an automated cell phone-notification system. That idea was popular with students interviewed Tuesday who said they often come to school straight from work, or don't live on campus, and might not otherwise get news quickly.
“I don't always check my e-mail before I come here,” said Amy Corbet, a senior from Toms River.
Kristen DiVario, of Deptford, said while not everyone has text-messaging capability, most students have cell phones they check regularly.
Tedeschi said the Virginia Tech issue did come up in class and one professor said he might start locking the classroom door for extra protection.
“I have friends at Virginia Tech,” he said. “This does hit close to home.”
Stockton plans a memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My picture was in the real paper...