Spring Break
Indiana colleges prepared, but safety can't be guaranteed
The Associated Press
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
The shooting of 32 people at Virginia Tech sent a shudder through college campuses in Indiana and left officials and students here wondering if there were any way for anyone to truly be prepared for such a massacre.
"In light of the horror of the situation, I don't think anyone can brag that we're prepared," said Dick McKaig, dean of students at Indiana University in Bloomington. "I don't think you're ever prepared for that kind of tragedy."
The deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history ended Monday with the gunman committing suicide, bringing the death toll to 33. Investigators gave no motive for the attack. The gunman's name was not immediately released, and it was not known whether he was a student.
The university was faced with difficult questions about its handling of the emergency and whether it did enough to warn students and protect them after the first burst of gunfire.
Officials at colleges in Indiana said they have done what they could to prepare for similar events, but acknowledged there was no way to know whether that was enough.
"There's always apprehension that something unexpected could happen. You worry that some completely, out of the ordinary, bizarre incident could happen," said Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne Chancellor Michael Wartell.
"When you think about it, there isn't a way to completely prevent things from happening. You simply do the best you can."
For students, too, safety was a relative thing.
"I feel fairly safe," said Ball State freshman Jackie Haviland, of Shirley. "As safe as you can feel. You always have to watch your back anywhere you are at."
Schools have several security measures already in place. Most large campuses have their own police force. IPFW has more than 200 cameras that monitor the campus. Some campuses have emergency phones, and Indiana Tech has plans to install illuminated safety posts, where students press a button that lights up when they are in danger.
"In light of the horror of the situation, I don't think anyone can brag that we're prepared," said Dick McKaig, dean of students at Indiana University in Bloomington. "I don't think you're ever prepared for that kind of tragedy."
The deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history ended Monday with the gunman committing suicide, bringing the death toll to 33. Investigators gave no motive for the attack. The gunman's name was not immediately released, and it was not known whether he was a student.
The university was faced with difficult questions about its handling of the emergency and whether it did enough to warn students and protect them after the first burst of gunfire.
Officials at colleges in Indiana said they have done what they could to prepare for similar events, but acknowledged there was no way to know whether that was enough.
"There's always apprehension that something unexpected could happen. You worry that some completely, out of the ordinary, bizarre incident could happen," said Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne Chancellor Michael Wartell.
"When you think about it, there isn't a way to completely prevent things from happening. You simply do the best you can."
For students, too, safety was a relative thing.
"I feel fairly safe," said Ball State freshman Jackie Haviland, of Shirley. "As safe as you can feel. You always have to watch your back anywhere you are at."
Schools have several security measures already in place. Most large campuses have their own police force. IPFW has more than 200 cameras that monitor the campus. Some campuses have emergency phones, and Indiana Tech has plans to install illuminated safety posts, where students press a button that lights up when they are in danger.
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