How safe are college campuses?

The shootings at Virginia Tech may challenge a cherished culture of openness.

from the April 18, 2007 edition

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In the case of Virginia Tech, the shooter, a senior from South Korea, may have posted worrisome comments in his online profile. The Associated Press reported that his creative writing in class was so disturbing that he was referred for counseling. That's the sort of thing that should be report to authorities, says Beverly Glenn, director of George Washington University's Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence. Her organization has trained resident assistants in dorms in understand ing warning signs – something she'd like to see more of. She'd also like to see universities create rules outlawing possession of weapons. That issue arose at the University of Utah last year, when a law was passed allowing students 21 or older to bring firearms to campus if they have a permit.

"We have a lot of boys and young men who don't know how to deal with their feelings of rage or depression or being broken-hearted or any of the other kinds of normal emotions," Dr. Glenn notes. "You have to try to teach people that guns are not a way to resolve things."

Some campuses have already taken significant steps to boost security, and many more say they'll revisit their plans now.

Mr. Black says that before Columbine, protocol was to wait out the shooter and try to negotiate. "Now, we've discovered every second could be a death, so training has changed – we need to get in quickly, effectively, and safely. We need to take risks to save lives."

Now, he expects campuses to install more cameras and practice their "active shooter response."

"We will begin to close buildings that don't need to be open to the public," he says. "The library, concert halls will be open, but our laboratories and our classroom buildings may need swipe cards for access, just like residence halls."

At Arizona State University in Tempe, officials expect to review what happened at Virginia Tech, and possibly adjust their current crisis plans. The university sends out flyers and updates its website when there are situations, such as armed robberies. "We also have general safety briefings for students and residence assistants," says Police Commander Jim Hardina. "People tend not to take security seriously until [an incident like Virginia Tech] happens, and then we find they are hyper-vigilant. But, after a few days or months, they go back to their everyday ways."

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