College Security and Safety; More Concern Than Just Police

By: Ryan Dettmann

Although many parents worry about the safety with college campus’s, they mainly worry about the police and blue light but most college’s police and blue lights can only provide so much protection. Many Parent’s and students don’t consider the other aspects of security like classes, alert systems, web security. These can big a part in making a campus in security.

In recent years College’s emergency alert systems have been increasingly used most notably with hurricane Katrina, Northern Illinois, and the terrible shooting at Virginia Tech. Many of the alert systems focus on natural disasters and acts of violence, but even with that supposed preparedness many still lack many aspects of making a campus safe in emergency situations. They generally address the basic situations like a suspicious looking person or evacuation plan, but some leave out how to deal with psychological distress or lockdown. Also many of the Colleges have there emergency alert plans and procedures online, but little over half of the Colleges are prepared for the Cyber Disruption. This would make the Colleges more vulnerable if there were a Cyber Disruption because the students might be unable to reach the Website or Internet. Additionally, security cameras are lacking on campuses with less than half having security cameras outside campus dining halls and other buildings, making students in an urban environment.

With even alert systems and procedures there are other safety situations such as needs CPR, which is increasingly getting more popular at Colleges such as Emory. These can come in handy for situations when people are in need of medical assistance. But one thing Colleges should consider offering self-defense classes especially at Colleges with Urban environments so students know what to do in certain situation like if a student is being mugged or confronted by a stranger.

Safety should and is a major concern for parents and students, but they consider every aspect of safety. Furthermore, Colleges should also consider making their security plans more concise and available to students and staff, because as studies mentioned earlier that colleges lack some aspects in their safety procedures.