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KU reviews safety after Illinois tragedy
timeline
School Shootings in the United States since 2005
Feb. 14, 2008: Northern Illinois State University
Feb. 8, 2008: Louisiana Technical College
Oct. 10, 2007: Asa H. Coon School, Cleveland
Sept. 21, 2007; Delaware State university
Apr.16,2007: Virginia tech University
Jan. 3, 2007: Henry Foss High School, Washington
Sept. 26, 2006: Platte Canyon High School
Nov. 8, 2005: Campbell County High School
March 21, 2005: Red Lake High school
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JESSICA WICKS
JWICKS@KANSAN.COM
University of Kansas administrators had little reaction to the Northern Illinois shooting that killed six and injured 15 last week. Don Steeples, vice provost for scholarly support, said that the University's warning system put in place after the Virginia Tech shooting is sufficient for the University at this time. Those systems, however, are still in the implementation process and the University still does not have a way to control panicking students trying to get off campus.
Steeples said that a complete campus lockdown would be out of the question because it was not feasible to simultaneously lock the doors in 150 campus buildings.
He also said that a faculty training program on how to handle large groups of panicking students is probably not something the University will look into. He added that he didn't think the training would be worth the effort.
Steeples said the chance that Kansas will be the next target of a school shooting is incredibly small. He said that of the thousand state universities in the United States, only three major shootings have happened at state universities in the last year.
"Putting on my professor hat, I would say the threat has such a low statistical probability that I am willing to live with it," Steeples said. "Putting on my admin hat, I would say that the chances of this happening at my campus in a year are 1 in 1000."
According to KU Public Safety statistics, only three weapon violations were reported between 2004 and 2007. This information is from the same report that said only 13 liquor law violations occurred on campus during the same three year period.
"Are we prepared to handle a shooting as well as Northern Illinois? I think so." Steeples said. "Do I think we could handle it better than Virginia Tech? I think we can, and I certainly hope so."
Steeples said that from what he understood, Northern Illinois had police in the building within two minutes of the incident. He said that whether the University of Kansas would be as efficient would depend on the location of the patrolmen during the incident and the level of pedestrian
- the incident and the level of pedestrian traffic at the time.
Ryan Lierz, Seneca junior, said he felt safe on the KU campus.
"Maybe it is because I am naive and I don't think it will ever happen here," Lierz said. "Well, I hope and pray it won't happen."
Lierz said he can see how the University's text-message system could cause widespread panic that could lead to other problems.
Graphic by Kevin Grunwald/KANSAM
"It is hard to say what I would do without actually being in the situation," Lierz said. "I think I would want to know where the shooter was."
University officials reacted to last week's shooting at Northern Illinois University via a news release. In it, administrators expressed condolences for the victims and counseling options for KU students. Steeples said they were not doing anything new to ensure students that the University would be secure in the event of a gun threat.
Steeples added that two loudspeakers were installed on Jayhawk Boulevard to warn students as well.
Steeples said the three security systems set up after the Virginia Tech shooting were emergency e-mails, messages through fire alarm speakers and an opt-in emergency text message program. He said they are all still being set up, but provide a strategy in unpredictable high-threat situations.
The KU Public Safety Office determines how the systems are used according to Steeples.
Steeples said the fire alarm system was highly effective because it allowed the police to speak to students directly in order to control their reactions. This technology allows police officers to use the fire siren speakers to give voice commands about the emergency. The fire alarm system is available in more than 40 of the 150 buildings on campus. He said all buildings with more than several dozen student capacities have these alarm systems in them. According to Steeples, they are considering adding more alarms based on the installation feasibility.
Steepsled said the University tested their text system once already and it worked fine. He said that the system could send about
The text message system, which was implemented at several other universities, including Florida and Purdue, is still in the process of development. In January, Florida sent out 35,727 messages in less than 30 minutes, according to Florida University Relations.
10,000 texts in around 30 minutes, but the message has to go through a chain of command. The Public Safety Office would talk to the provosts who would then arrange a conference call with the police and University Relations. When they decide what message
relations. When they decide what message to send, University Relations calls the Information Technology department to request the alert. Steeples said this all happens within a matter of minutes.
Steeples said that in the case of an extreme emergency, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, senior vice provost for academic affairs, had the ability to skip the conference call and order the alert herself.
Lierz said that he would like to get the text if something major happened, but he didn't sign up for it when it was advertised because he didn't want to receive weather alerts and other warnings the University might use the system for.
do not get a message two weeks ago when the University had a snow day because of dangerous road conditions.
Steeples said that the University is still developing a policy on when to use the texts to inform students about school closings. He said that's why inquiring students
—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
》DOLE INSTITUTE
Coursework may include study groups
In an effort to unite the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics with academics on campus, the Dole Institute is offering its political study groups to professors who want to enhance their class content.
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SPOTLIGHT
Karen Chandler graduated from the University of Kansas in 1998. Now she's serving in Afghanistan, helping local government solve its problems and run better. The experience has been interesting and not normal, Chandler said.
Alumna works for embassy team in Afghanistan
Submitted Photo
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LAWRENCE
Simran Sethi, School of Journalism professional-in-residence and environmental journalist, says she enjoys sharing her interest of sustainability with the University and city. Sethi was appointed to the Lawrence Climate Protection Task Force last week.
Journalist offers experience
Simran Sethi was part of MTV when the network first took off. She's worked with Opera Winfrey, Ellen Degenerous and she once held a forum with Al Gore. As a news
correspondent, she can be seen on NBC News, the Today Show, CNBC and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Now Sethi lives in Lawrence, and after being
4.
appointed to the city's Climate Protection Task Force last week she said she plans to stay for awhile.
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