BY ALANA PERRY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In preparation for a violent intruder the Bellarmine administration is reviewing the disaster preparedness manual which can be found at bellarmine.edu/security. In addition, Vice President of Student Affairs Helen Grace Ryan and members of campus safety and security have collaborated with members of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s fifth division and the FBI to keep the campus secure.
University of Kentucky Community Affairs Officer Alan Saylor will conduct campus-wide training for active shooter situations for Bellarmine University students, faculty and staff Jan. 12, 2016.
According to the University of Kentucky Police Department’s active shooter class presentations webpage: “While the possibility of being involved in an active shooter incident on campus may be remote, the consequences can be catastrophic. That’s why it makes good sense to spend some time now thinking and preparing for it.”
Within the last few weeks, members of the LMPD fifth division have conducted walk-throughs on campus so they can better respond in the case of an emergency. Ryan said those LMPD leaders indicated response time would be quick because Bellarmine is situated between the fourth, fifth and sixth divisions.
Members of the FBI recommended the training with Saylor and endorsed a video called “Run. Hide. Fight,” which can be viewed under “Violent Intruder Information” on the Bellarmine Safety and Security website.
In a campus-wide email on Nov. 20 Ryan said: “Bellarmine is committed to your personal safety. While we have not had any threats to our campus, if a threat to campus safety were to occur, community members would be notified through the emergency text messaging system. Messages would also be displayed on the digital monitors, University web site, and distributed via email.”
“Continued violent intruder trainings for the campus community will take place next semester. In the meantime, for more detailed information and to view the video [Run. Hide. Fight.], please visit http://www.bellarmine.edu/security/violent-intruder-information/.”
Ryan said a planned security audit done by an external company was postponed until a new director of campus safety and security is found as the current director, Joseph Frye, recently resigned.
Bellarmine Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs Hunt Helm said it is better to be prepared for a violent situation that never happens.
“It’s good to be aware of your surroundings and think about what you’d do,” Helm said.
He said Bellarmine’s crisis communication plan has never been used, and he advised the campus community to sign up for the emergency text-messaging system.
In addition, the Student Government Association approved funding for an app called LiveSafe on Nov. 20. The app will allow students to provide anonymous tips about suspicious activity on campus, communicate with campus security by text message and more.
According to the livesafemobile.com: “LiveSafe is a communication platform that facilitates discreet and risk-free bystander intervention by community members through information sharing with campus safety officials. Through a campus safety app installed on iPhone and Android devices, students can report GPS-tagged information with added pictures, video, and audio clips. Safety officials are able to respond to students via a Command Dashboard using a real-time two-way chat, or investigate further using the information submitted to officials.”
Ryan fully supported the app and said: “The Director of Public Safety will work with the new LiveSafe app and infuse that into our campus response protocols. It will be such an enhancement.”
How to sign up for emergency text-messaging:
Students:
·Go to: https://my.bellarmine.edu/ICS/Student/Main_Page.jnz?portlet=Emergency_Contact_Info
·Login with your Bellarmine username and password
·Click the “Register for emergency notifications” link
Faculty/Staff:
·Go to: https://my.bellarmine.edu/ICS/Employee/Main_Page.jnz?portlet=Emergency_Contact_Information
·Login with your Bellarmine username and password
·Click the “Register for emergency notifications” link