New details from the tragedy at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, were recently revealed in 59 pages of handwritten notes that chronicled the shooting deaths of 32 people on the campus in Blacksburg, Va. While no shootings like this have ever happened at AU, this tragedy sparked several additions to AU's security system.
"Given the magnitude of what happened, there have been so many changes I don't know where to begin," said Mark Owczarski, Virginia Tech's news and information director.
Security was a major issue after the shootings, but it was the result of a deeply disturbed and mentally ill person who never openly displayed signs of insanity or homicidal tendencies, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Stager said during a speech last fall. As a result of the school shooting, the university instituted new measures to identify high-risk students for risky behavior, Owczarski said.
Virginia Tech utilizes the National Notification Network, a system designed to contact people on their cell phones through texts and voicemail, as well as connecting to their e-mail about emergency situations and procedures during a crisis, he said.
Future security measures would include better locks and doors for all classrooms, a new video camera monitoring system and a new building that would house campus police and emergency rescue workers, Owczarski said.
At AU, security was already very tight before the events at Virginia Tech, according to Associate Dean of Students Sara Waldron. However, the university did implement several changes similar to Virginia Tech's measures.
AU implemented two systems designed for emergency communications - the Alert DC system and AU Campus Connect.
Public Safety Chief Michael McNair said it was important for students to stay informed and taking advantage of these systems.
The DC Alert system will alert registered users through text messaging of any news alerts that concern the entire D.C. area. AU Connect is a university-run program that works in tandem with the Rave network, which gives students access to e-mail and the Internet through their phone and Sprint to connect students via voicemail and texts.
McNair said he would like 50 percent of students to be registered for the system by December. Students can get further information on these programs through the my.american.edu portal.
McNair said that campus security officials and administrators train for potential crises several times during the year. Last year, the university completed a drill to test the effectiveness of these communication programs.
The university needed to improve its detection of disturbed students because of the Virginia Tech massacre. Communication to advisors and faculty focuses on ways to identify troubled students and the resources available to help them. Students can also go to campus security if they notice suspicious behavior. There is also a 24-hour on-call counselor service available to all students. Resident assistants are a good resource, as they are also trained for emergency situations and troubled students, Waldron said.
Molly Martinez, a freshman in the School of Communication, said she always feels security has a strong and visible presence on campus.
Daniel Lewkow, a junior and transfer student in the School of Public Affairs, said the security system at AU is more present and accessible than his old school.
You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
