2008 Woodie Awards
Shooter drill set for April 30, many faculty uneasy
Jessica Anderson
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
Earlier this month, Police Chief Nate Johnson asked members of the community for their "continued trust, support and participation in our effort to mitigate risks and better plan for potential disasters", largely referring to the active-shooter drills recently announced.
However, the drills have been met with plenty of skepticism, and only scattered support by the faculty and staff of SSU.
April 30 is the date now being given by Police Services for the vague emergency exercise that will focus on a scenario in which a gunman is active on our campus.
Few details are known about what the exercises will entail or where they will occur, although Deputy Chief Sally Miller has implied that the drills will attempt to involve all parts of the campus community.
"The planned campus-specific active shooter drill set for the end of April, is a most serious mistake waiting to happen," said lecturer Skip Robinson, in a posting on the SenateTalk listserv-an email group that serves as a discussion forum for many faculty, staff and administrative members.
"I think it is extremely ill-advised for the campus to run a drill of this type," said Peter Philips of the Sociology department, echoing the sentiment of Robinson. "It builds the paranoia/fear of such events happening when the chances are hugely against an actual incident at SSU."
"We have never even had an earthquake drill, although this is certainly a more likely scenario," offered Mary Halavais of the History department.
However, this 'it couldn't happen here' argument was quickly countered by Karin Jaffe of the Anthropology department.
"I doubt very much that any member of the Virginia tech campus thought such an incident could happen at their university, even the day before it happened," said Jaffe. "I certainly hope that none of us ever experience a violent rampage like the one that occurred at Virginia Tech, but thinking, assuming, or hoping it won't happen doesn't mean it won't."
However, the drills have been met with plenty of skepticism, and only scattered support by the faculty and staff of SSU.
April 30 is the date now being given by Police Services for the vague emergency exercise that will focus on a scenario in which a gunman is active on our campus.
Few details are known about what the exercises will entail or where they will occur, although Deputy Chief Sally Miller has implied that the drills will attempt to involve all parts of the campus community.
"The planned campus-specific active shooter drill set for the end of April, is a most serious mistake waiting to happen," said lecturer Skip Robinson, in a posting on the SenateTalk listserv-an email group that serves as a discussion forum for many faculty, staff and administrative members.
"I think it is extremely ill-advised for the campus to run a drill of this type," said Peter Philips of the Sociology department, echoing the sentiment of Robinson. "It builds the paranoia/fear of such events happening when the chances are hugely against an actual incident at SSU."
"We have never even had an earthquake drill, although this is certainly a more likely scenario," offered Mary Halavais of the History department.
However, this 'it couldn't happen here' argument was quickly countered by Karin Jaffe of the Anthropology department.
"I doubt very much that any member of the Virginia tech campus thought such an incident could happen at their university, even the day before it happened," said Jaffe. "I certainly hope that none of us ever experience a violent rampage like the one that occurred at Virginia Tech, but thinking, assuming, or hoping it won't happen doesn't mean it won't."
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