Open Letter on Campus Safety From Chancellor James Oblinger

The tragedy at Virginia Tech has made campus safety the number one topic in our collective conversation.  We all realize that what happened in Blacksburg could happen anywhere.

NC State takes several approaches to campus safety and emergency preparedness, starting with a well-trained police department, one of the few accredited university police departments in the country.  Accreditation means our police have met or exceeded nationally recognized standards for law enforcement agencies.  The university’s police department provides a full range of services, including 24-hour patrol (by vehicle, on bikes, on foot and on horseback), investigations, a 911 center and a crime prevention unit. The department offers a wide range of educational services.

Campus safety is a top priority of the university. Below are several links to safety resources on campus.

NC State University Police Department Web site Emergency procedures: To be better prepared to get help in an emergency. Remember, to report any emergency, dial 911 or activate one of the many blue light boxes located on campus. Blue light map: More than 400 “blue light” emergency call boxes are placed in various locations throughout campus. Tips: If you think you have information about a crime, let campus police know. Education and training: Campus police sponsor several seminars and also are available to meet with student and employee groups and organizations to discuss safety procedures. Counseling Resources: Counseling and crisis intervention resources for students and employees who have been victims of crime.

We have universitywide crisis response and communication plans on which departmental plans are based.  These allow us to understand some basic crisis response protocols.  By creating a plan before a crisis erupts, we believe we have accelerated our decision-making process, an important advantage in an emergency.

We also practice emergency situations using our crisis plan.  By simulating a crisis and engaging the leadership in a decision-making discussion, we improve our ability to respond to a real emergency.

Our police department also routinely practices its own crisis prevention and response planning.  Drills with Wake County, such as the mock-terrorist assault at Carter-Finley Stadium two years ago, further support our preparedness.

Our Emergency Planning Committee will expedite their review of the campus communication and emergency notification systems to make sure multiple systems are in place – and to consider suggestions made by students, such as use of Facebook and text messaging.

I assure you that just as you are thinking and talking about campus safety, the administrative leaders of the university are thinking, talking and planning.

I quickly add that all the planning in the world will not make us immune to crisis.  Campus safety should not be taken for granted.  Safety is a shared responsibility.  I encourage you to be vigilant, to be mindful of good safety practices and to let campus police know of any suspicious activity.