Campus Safety Policies More Responsive in Times of Disaster

No one could have predicted the tragic events that plagued Virginia Tech lastspring - events that caused colleges and universities across the country to take a second look at their campus safety policies.

Winston-Salem State University is no exception. The WSSU Police Department is continuing its efforts to ensure campus safety for students and teachers alike,demonstrating that safety cannot be an afterthought.

Campus safety has always been a big concern at WSSU, said Capt. Marcus Sutton. "Even before the Virginia Tech incident there werealready conversations...there were things that we were working on prior to that incident."

Sutton said that even the process of enrolling at WSSU is facing some changes. As it stands, the application process is on an honor system. A new policy, now under discussion, would require background checks for prospective students.

"We have a lot of people who are not honest," Sutton said. "So running background checks is something we are exploring."

In addition, campus police are taking measures to train rapid deployment teams to effectively clear the school of life-threatening situations. Sutton said that the campus police have learned a lotfrom the Virginia Tech incident. The WSSU Police Department has purchased equipment to deal with someone who might barricade a classroom.

"We've purchased equipment to cut chains and break doors open," Sutton said.

Charles Albohn, a campus police officer who has trained in rapid-deployment scenarios, says that working for city agencies andhaving a military background has its benefits when working for a campus police department.

"We are more apt to point out different issues that may arise out of an incident such as Virginia Tech," Albohn said. "It isn't if it will happen, it's when it will happen."

WSSU's campus police department can be every bit as resourceful as a city agency, albeit on a much smaller level. A range of safety issues continues to be examined on a daily basis to help ensure the safety of the campus community, Sutton said. Securityand safety have been, and continue to be, top priorities, he said.

WSSU students may never have to face an event like that of Virginia Tech. The campus police, on the other hand, have preparedfor the worst.

"You just can't predict what people are going to do," Sutton said. "Anything can happen, at any time."