The University has completed almost all initiatives of a higher education security program implemented in May 2007. The Postsecondary Education Campus Physical Security Initiative was created by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco in response to the Virginia Tech massacre this past year. Mike Abbiatti, Regents Associate Commissioner for Information and Learning Technology, said the campus security initiative was designed to evaluate the physical security of 70 state campuses, including all LSU, Southern University, University of Louisiana and Community and Technical College System campuses. “If there’s one single goal, it is to raise and maintain the level of situational awareness across post-secondary education,” Abbiatti said. Abbiatti said raising awareness means “creating a culture of preparedness.” He said the initiative works to prepare campuses for every kind of emergency. “It doesn’t make any difference if it’s a hurricane, a shooting – whatever may happen on campus,” Abbiatti said. The Legislature appropriated $2.5 million for the initiative during the 2007 regular session, according to a Board of Regents news release. Abbiatti said the program consists of four initiatives: an alert notification system, training for campus police officers, faculty, staff and students, a physical campus assessment and policy revision. The alert notification system addresses emergency situation methods of mass notification. Abbiatti said all Louisiana public colleges and universities have a text-messaging emergency alert system, reverse 911 and e-mail alerts. Those campuses with sirens have implemented them into an emergency plan, he said. LSU implemented its own text-messaging system in May 2007 and has since used it for emergencies, including the double homicide that occurred in early December. “You have to use multiple mechanisms to communicate with people in these events,” Abbiatti said. Training for campus police teaches them how to respond to campus shootings while securing the area. Active shooter training continues across the state, Abbiatti said. Gary Durham, University Public Safety executive director, said LSU Police Department officers already completed active shooter training. Maj. Lawrence Rabalais, LSUPD spokesman, said officers undergo training to react to shootings and to keep control of their gun during a confrontation. Abbiatti said faculty, staff and students can participate in campus and community emergency response team training. Durham said some officers and administrators have completed training, but he is not aware of student training. “We’re in the early stages of that type of training right now,” Durham said. The training initiative also includes grants for faculty to integrate emergency preparedness into their curricula, Abbiatti said. “You’re providing a much more well-informed populace on all the campuses,” Abbiatti said. “We want people to understand what’s happening and be able to react no matter what the situation may be.” Durham said he has not heard of any University faculty applying for such grants. Abbiatti said all campuses will undergo an online assessment pilot April 24. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is helping to set campus security standards, he said. The campus physical assessments are focused on installing cameras and sirens and ensuring building locks and campus lighting are adequate, Abbiatti said. Durham said the University is seeking funding for additional cameras and some technical equipment that is new on the market. His department wants to provide LSUPD control cars with license plate readers that search the number of each plate the police car passes in a national crime database. Abbiatti said the Information and Learning Technology commissioner will provide funding for campus security problems. “It’s no good to make the assessment and leave it unfunded,” Abbiatti said. Abbiatti said the Board of Regents is working to identify policies that need to be resolved. “It’s not possible to make a higher education campus 100 percent safe and secure,” he said.
—-Contact Emily Holden at [email protected]