The Ripple Effect of Virginia Tech

Assessing the Nationwide Impact on Campus Safety and Security Policy and Practice

A report from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact

This material was produced under grant number SH-17035-08-60-F-11 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. These materials do not necessarily reflect views or policies of the

U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of any trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Recent EventsMay 9, 2003

A 62-year-old man with two handguns and a bullet- proof vest fires hundreds of rounds during a seven- hour shooting spree and standoff at a Case Western Reserve University building in Cleveland. One student is killed and two others are wounded. Biswanath Halder, who authorities say was upset be- cause he believed a student hacked into his web site, is later sentenced to life in prison.

Sept. 2, 2006

Douglas W. Pennington, 49, kills himself and his two sons, Logan P. Pennington, 26, and Benjamin M. Pennington, 24, during a visit to the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

April 2, 2007 University of Washington researcher Rebecca Griego, 26, is shot to death in her office by a former boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself.

April 16, 2007 Seung Hui Cho kills 32 people and injures at least 24 others in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The gunman then kills him- self by gunshot.

Sept. 21, 2007 Two students are wounded at a late-night shooting at a campus dining hall at Delaware State University in Dover. Shalita Middleton, 17, dies Oct. 23 from her injuries. A student is charged in the shooting.

Oct. 1, 2007 University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford, 21, is fatally shot on campus in a botched robbery. Four men are later charged in the slaying, including one student.

Dec. 13, 2007 Two Ph.D. students from India are found shot to death in a home invasion at an apartment on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Feb. 8, 2008 Latina Williams, 23, opens fire during an emergency medical technology class at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge, killing Karsheika Graves and Taneshia Butler. She then kills herself.

Feb. 14, 2008 Steven Kazmierczak, a former graduate student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, opens fire in a lecture hall, killing five students and wounding 15 others. He then commits suicide.

July 24, 208Rodney Smith, a former student at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona shot three people in the computer lab, critically injuring one. His victims included two who were hit by stray bullets and one who he had a long standing feud with. Smith was arrested within 30 minutes of the 911 call.

Violence Statistics

• Nationwide college enrollment of 17.5 million in 2005.

• Between 2001 and 2005 fewer than 10 students a year on average were murdered on college campuses.

• “The chances of being murdered on campus are about as likely as being fatally struck by lightening”.

Mobile Phones

• Less than 5% reported that mobile phones were included in their emergency notification system prior to the events at Virginia Tech.

• 75% of the remaining respondents plan to acquire the technology or had already implemented systems since April of last year.

Communications Best Practices• Use layered approach – several technologies

• Test the systems

• Determine who has authority to issue emergency alert notices

• Account for hearing and sight impaired

• Educate the campus community

Campus Police and Security• Campus security varies

• Emergency communications devices such as “panic buttons” or telephones in outdoor areas of campus

• Closed circuit security cameras

• Classroom lockdowns from remote location

Faculty and Staff Training

• Over 2/3rds provide training for faculty and staff to recognize disturbing, threatening, or potentially threatening student behavior.

• 82% have formal procedures for faculty and staff to communicate concerns about student behavior.

• 65% have groups of faculty and/or staff that meet regularly to discuss troubled and potentially troubled students.

Other Policies

• Training for residence hall student staff on security and safety issues

• Revised language regarding student behavior in student handbook

• Reporting procedures for unusual behavior

• Involuntary withdrawal procedures of students for psychological reasons

• Monitoring of students returning after psychiatric hospitalization

Budgetary Considerations

• 35% indicated their 07-08 budget for safety and security increased.

• Some have received funding from outside their institution.

• About 25% reported hiring at least 1 additional staff person related to safety and security.

Virginia Tech Task Force Recommendations• Emergency Planning and Critical

Incident Response • Empowering and Resourcing the

Campus Public Safety Function

• Prevention and Education Programs to Address Campus Safety Risks

Emergency Planning and Critical Incident Response • Threat and vulnerability assessment

• Variety of methods to disseminate information

• NIMS framework – ICS

• Annual training on emergency operations

• Work with local government partners

• Provide First Responder training

Empowering and Resourcing the

Campus Public Safety Function • Public safety executive – direct access to institutional decision-making authority

• Review of physical security infrastructure

• Compliance with Clery Act – timely response

• Interoperable communications

• State legislation to allow sworn police agency

• Understanding of involuntary hospitalization procedures

Prevention and Education Programs to Address Campus Safety Risks

• Admissions and employment questions – charged or convicted of a crime

• Behavioral threat assessment team

• Program to end violence against women crimes

• Faculty and staff training – how to respond and how notification systems will be used

• Collaborative relationships with advocacy services