The massacre at Virginia Tech Monday that left 33 people dead has prompted Vanderbilt to take a second look at campus safety and emergency preparedness procedures.
"Any time you have an incident that occurs like that, either locally or nationally, it’s always a good thing to reflect on your own protocols," said Marlon C. Lynch, Vanderbilt's chief of police.
Lynch said he and other university officials are meeting to discuss the university’s plans for responding to emergencies, but they have not made any policy changes yet.
Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Michael Schoenfeld said the university plans to release expanded security information for students and parents in the next few days.
"In general, Vanderbilt is an extraordinarily safe place," Schoenfeld said, but he noted the difficulty of controlling a large and open environment that includes both a university and a medical center.
"We are confident that we could deal with any eventuality, but that doesn't mean you can necessarily prevent it," he said.
The Vanderbilt University Police Department publishes emergency response plans on its Web site, including what to do in the event of a bomb threat, a hostage situation or an armed gunman entering a building.
Schoenfeld said the university has communications protocol that includes methods like e-mail and direct contact and that it is working to expand the use of text messaging to communicate with students.
Lynch said Vanderbilt police coordinate with the Nashville Police Department and have already been in contact with them regarding events in Virginia.
“We have the benefit of being in a metropolitan city, so we have a very strong working relationship with the metro police department,” he said.
Lynch also said the police department already had plans to increase staffing levels this week due to Rites of Spring.
While Vanderbilt has never experienced a disaster like the massacre at Virginia Tech, Schoenfeld said the university has dealt with its share of crises, including a shooting in Morgan House residence hall that injured three students in fall 2005 and prompted the creation of a task force to address campus security.
Acting on the task force’s recommendations, Lynch said, the university has increased education and community awareness through programs like Vanderbilt Visions and added more physical security features such as additional electronic card access readers in dormitories.
"The university does have both procedures and people who are very well trained, very skilled and very professional in dealing with a full range of crises," Schoenfeld said. "The Vanderbilt community has been through them in many different forms."
Lynch said the best thing students can do to promote safety is to watch out for their peers and tell someone if they observe suspicious behavior.
Schoenfeld agreed, saying community members' vigilance is key to keeping campus safe.
"It sounds like a clich?©, but it's true. Safety and security is everybody's business here," Schoenfeld said.
Campus security links:
Vanderbilt University Police Department
VUPD information on firearms and weapons safekeeping
Security at Vanderbilt brochure
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