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9:57 p.m. • 2-10-12

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Virginia Tech Report Spurs Action by N.C. Campuses


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Virginia Tech Report Spurs Action by N.C. Campuses
Virginia Tech Report Spurs Action by N.C. Campuses

Some N.C. State students, back on campus for the first time since the Virginia Tech shootings last spring, have noticed a difference in campus security.

“I noticed more security trucks. The emergency phones are everywhere nowadays,” said student Jonathan Lunn.

“I feel comfortable, more cops around and more security,” said student Joseph Randolph.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said he wants campuses in this state to learn from the Virginia Tech tragedy. He asked his Task Force on University Safety to discuss a report, disclosed Wednesday night, that looked at how VT handled its tragedy and what it might have done differently as events were unfolding there.

Meanwhile, universities have already taken steps to make their students safer. One such measure is a brochure school officials handed out to students this year. It's a safety pamphlet about the university's crisis plan in case of a mass emergency like the shootings at Virginia Tech.

It's all part of an effort to keep N.C. State and other North Carolina college campuses safe.

N.C. State officials said they are looking at using text messages and a siren system.

“We found, here on our campus, we can send out an e-mail alert in an instant. But by the time it filters out to all 31,000 students, plus our 8,000 faculty and staff, it could take up to two hours,” said Capt. Jon Barnwell, with NCSU police.

The attorney general has homed in on the portion of the Virginia Tech report that focused on the shooter's mental health problems. Cooper said he wants the task force to look at state and federal laws on mental health laws and propose ways to tweak them, if necessary.

“We owe it to our students to plan for the unthinkable,” Cooper said, “to make sure that educators and law enforcement understand the laws and are able to report this information about potentially violent students.”

Based on what Cooper said, UNC-Greensboro sent a letter to its faculty and staff about ways to recognize troubled students.

UNC-Wilmington added a component to its freshman orientation this year. East Carolina University implemented a safety-alert method of contacting students and parents.

Cooper’s task force plans to meet Sept. 11.

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Well as for myself, I am going to be prepared for the next hurricane, I have arranged to purchase umbrellas for all my family. And as for guns, have many times have you heard of people being shot with their own gun? There is very little if anything you can do to prevent this type of thing from happening? Any of you familiar with New York and 911? You cant stop a train. People who have no desire to live and "bent" on destruction as well as self destruction-- cannot be stopped. If they dont get you- they just get someone else.

"68polara, Your disagreement with my opinion does not equal "odd, ill informed". Simply different opinions."

Not really, the FACT is that those who are carrying ccws are not the ones committing crimes and to imply they are is factually not accurate.

jeebk04,

I think you and I are going to be friends. :-)

The police do not prevent crime, they come onto the scene when after a crime has been committed. At this point in time, they cannot read minds and "thought crimes" aren't illegal (just yet).

I think you may be mis-understanding the difference between someone who carries a concealed weapon versus someone who is legally permitted to ccw. The second requires class time, fingerprinting, and registration. The first, does not. Guess to which group the majority of criminals belong?

You are statistically much safer in a room of ccw permit holders than in out in the crowd.

68polara, Your disagreement with my opinion does not equal "odd, ill informed". Simply different opinions.

ifcdirector, are you insane? Very inflammatory remark my friend. You really cannot compare one not wanting students to walk around with guns on campus, to that guy's actions. Maybe you need a psych eval yourself, lol.

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