Published: April 08, 2008 11:47 am            

Teaming security together at Ivy Tech in Sellersburg

School makes changes following tragic shooting one year ago

Many larger campuses across the nation made drastic changes in how they deal with emergencies following the Virginia Tech shootings nearly a year ago.

Even though Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg has about 4,100 students — compared to Virginia Tech’s more than 25,000 — school officials still decided changes were needed.

The school first set up an emergency-response team to develop protocol for the college to follow if an incident were to occur and to also look for areas of vulnerability.

“We read a lot on what other colleges are doing, including Virginia Tech,” said Mary Springer, assistant dean of student life, who also chairs the emergency-response team. “We realized that we pretty much have everything in place that we need to have.”

That includes the First Alert System, which allows officials to send mass text messages and e-mails to alert students of closings or any type of emergency situation. The school has always used off-duty Clark County Sheriff’s Department officers for security, but they were not there all the time.

“I think the most immediate response of that committee has been having pretty much full-time security officers on campus any time there are classes or events,” Springer said.

In the fall, she said the school will start using a student ID system. That will allow officers to have a full database of color photos of all students. Phase two will require that students swipe their ID cards to get in all the doors, but visitors would have to use the main entrance.

Springer said she believes the campus is safe, and those students interviewed agreed.

“For the most part I feel safe,” Stephanie Obernier, 25, said. “I usually don’t think about it.”

“In some ways it (the Virginia Tech shooting) makes you second-guess your surroundings and it makes you more aware, but here it is pretty safe,” Spencer Manship, 19, said.

“I just feel that a few random incidents shouldn’t terrorize everyone,” Larry Comer, 33, said. “Honestly, it’s in God’s hands. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

        

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