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letters from president norton

 

on campus security

September 4, 2007

Dear members of the university community,
 
Welcome to the first day of the fall semester. As we have been preparing for the new academic year, special attention has been paid to enhancing campus security. This issue has become a priority for colleges and universities nationwide since last April's deadly shootings at Virginia Tech. This summer at Southern, we have been actively engaged in implementing a variety of measures that will continue to make our campus a safe and healthy environment in which to learn and work. I wish to take the opportunity to share some of these initiatives with you.

A key development has been the creation of a comprehensive new emergency management plan for the university. This plan, detailing responses to a variety of scenarios -- from weather emergencies to bomb threats and hostile acts on campus -- will be finalized and submitted to the state by October 1. A user-friendly version of the plan, outlining practical safety measures for students, faculty and staff, will also be produced for general distribution this fall.

Additionally, we have taken steps to improve and expand our communications options should an emergency occur. This fall, we will be installing a siren/public address system atop Buley Library, thanks to a funded proposal submitted to the Department of Homeland Security by Chief Dooley. We are enhancing our Web site's capacity to deliver emergency information and we are working with the CSU System to solicit a vendor for an integrated text-messaging alert system that will be available at no cost to all members of our university community.

We continue to work closely with area police and federal agencies, who will provide support for the campus if the need arises. An initiative is underway to ensure that the university's master key access security system permits immediate entry to buildings by University Police and other emergency personnel.

The visibility and credibility of our University Police as sworn officers in the State of Connecticut will also be greatly enhanced this fall, when the previous tactical gear uniforms are replaced and our officers wear standard state police uniforms, as is the case at our sister CSU campuses.

University Police, in collaboration with Facilities Operations, Student Affairs and Student Government, have undertaken several other initiatives to enhance campus safety:

  • The North Campus walkway (commencing behind the Wintergreen Building) has been equipped with new directional lighting, and trees along that walkway have been trimmed to ensure well-lit access at night. Additional lighting has also been placed along Pine Rock Avenue, and road improvements have been undertaken to diminish flooding along that access road after heavy rainfall.
  • The stairway from Farnham Avenue to commuter Lot 9 has been cleared of shrubbery, and the lighting has been improved. Plans are underway to increase the lighting near the Lot 9 shuttle stop and the walkway to Brownell Hall.
  • University Police have applied for a $500,000 grant to obtain more security cameras for key campus locations. This will expand the closed-circuit surveillance system that was installed around Schwartz Hall and the Ethnic Heritage Center last summer.
  • Full-time emergency management coordinators will be hired this fall in both the University Police Department and Facilities Operations. These individuals  will review and update our emergency plan, run safety drills and table-top exercises for critical incidents, and ensure compliance of OSHA regulations in areas such as the handling of hazardous materials.
  • This summer, University Police officers completed "active shooter" training for incidents in academic buildings and residence halls. Last month, Southern hosted an evacuation procedures institute conducted for all CSU police. All of our officers were in attendance.
  • University Police have made concerted efforts to increase their visibility across campus. Midnight patrols now include bicycle officers and individual officers are also assigned to residence halls through a new program called LEARN, the Law Enforcement and Resident Network. This is a core ingredient of community policing for our residential communities.
  • The police are also partnering with campus groups such as the Women's Center, Student Government, and the Drug and Alcohol Resource Center to offer educational and safety awareness programming throughout the year. A Campus Safety Day is planned for September 27, with events based at the Adanti Student Center.

Despite all these security enhancements, the best method to ensure campus safety is individual awareness. Please be aware of your surroundings and report unusual activities to campus police at 392-5375. In an emergency, use the blue emergency phones that are wall-mounted or located on pedestals throughout campus. They connect directly with campus police dispatchers and may be activated by pressing the red button on the face of the speaker box.  If you are a residence hall student, be vigilant about who enters your building and use your access card appropriately -- don't offer it to people you don't know. If you are a faculty member and have concerns about disruptive student behavior, or threatening language (including in writings or e-mails), please contact the office of Student and University Affairs (392-5550), or Counseling Services (392-5475).

As always, we encourage you to share any suggestions that you may have for further improvements. With your ideas, your vigilance, and your continued support, you will help to ensure that this new academic year continues to offer a positive educational experience in a safe, secure environment.
 
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Cheryl J. Norton
President