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I tried to promise myself that one post was enough and I wouldn't come back to this, but after reading all the letters, can't help myself. I was a trained and certified school safety and security assessor for over ten years. This job entailed going to campuses (of all sizes) and evaluating their physical plants for safety and emergency plans for security. In all my training on emergency planning, rule #1 that was drummed into me over and over, was that you always hope for the best in an emergency situation, but you plan (and react)for the absolute-worst-case-totally-spiralling-out-of-control scenario. Overreaction is ALWAYS preferable to an inadequate response! With a well thought out plan, adequate staff/student awareness and training, and good communications, any situation can be controlled and damage minimized. These are basic priniciples that have guided school security for years.
I have studied just about all the information currently available about this tragedy and here are my observations: 1. I'm sure VT had a plan in place to deal with a situation like this, but it does not seem that it was properly implemented. I don't care what anyone says, a campus of any size CAN be locked down quickly and relatively efficiently with proper planning.(Look at the number of responders who arrived within minutes when an emergency was finally broadcast) 2. I have serious questions about the level of information and training given to VT staff and students regarding emergency plans. 3. I have serious questions about the campus communications network. Did they really rely so much on e-mails? Does this place not have a simple PA system? Classroom phone system? Bell/klaxon warning system? 4. Why did the staff/students have to resort to barricading the doors to try to save themselves? Did the doors not have locks? Anything that would have even slowed the perpetrator down would have given authorities more time to react and saved lives.
I don't claim to know everything and have all the answers, but I think the system at VT did not do enough and ultimately failed those it was responsible for.
