UW-Whitewater Crisis Situation Policy
Well UW-Whitewater, the school that I am currently attending decided to clarify their crisis situation policy:
To members of the UW-Whitewater campus community,
The Virginia Tech community suffered an extraordinary tragedy on Monday when more than 30 people were shot and killed and many others were wounded. Our thoughts turn to the Virginia Tech campus in this time of crisis.
In response to the situation at Virginia Tech, members of the UW-Whitewater administrative team met this morning to review campus polices and responses to emergency situations. UW-Whitewater is a safe and secure campus and we have felt comfortable in that knowledge. However, as the Virginia Tech situation shows, incidents can happen and the campus must be prepared.
In a crisis situation on the UW-Whitewater campus, all communication will come through broadcast emails and the campus homepage. It is vital that you read the broadcast emails and check the home page for important information. The Web address is UWW Home Page
Residence Life will make contact with all resident assistants today and they will schedule floor meetings this week. Specific information on these meetings will be made available to those who live in the halls. If you have any questions or concerns, please address them with your resident assistant or hall director.
In a campus violence situation, here are some ways to try to secure and protect yourself:
1. Lock or block the door.
2. Close blinds or cover windows. Stay hidden from view.
3. Call 911 or from a campus telephone call 9-911.
4. Look for a safe route of escape, if available.If the situation at Virginia Tech is causing you stress or anxiety, the University Health and Counseling Services is available to help. You can reach Counseling Services at 472-1305.
A moment of silence for the Virginia Tech victims will be held tonight prior to the Warhawk wheelchair basketball game. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Williams Center and is a benefit for injured resident assistant Tony Sabel.
After reading the announcement that was broadcast emailed to the UW-Whitewater community I have two questions:
1) How do we find out there is a crisis situation on campus? I understand that we should check our email and the website for updated information but is it reasonable for us to constantly check just in case there is a crisis? Why not have a siren or a PA voice that says “hey students and staff the shit is hitting the fan.”
2) How are those of us in class supposed to check the website or our email? Not all classrooms have computers and/or access. Would it be difficult to appoint or get some volunteer in every building to spread the word in the case of a crisis situation? There are some support staff that sit at an office all day and that could be alerted by email or even better a reverse 911 type system and spread the initial word and give the all clear.
I can tell you if I was in charge or working towards a safe campus a big priority would be putting phones and / or PA systems in all classrooms. The inability to communicate directly with students, faculty, and staff in an emergency situation is inexcusable.
Skipping School
So I decided to skip school today. I was on the interstate heading towards Whitewater when I came across a big slow down. Then I realized the interstate was closed and everyone was taking an exit that led back into Madison. I figured no problem I would cut through Madison and jump up on the Beltline and take Hwy 12 through Cambridge and Ft. Atkinson, when I heard on the radio that the Beltline was a mess too. At this time I called my professor and left a message saying I just couldn’t get to Whietwater and drove back home.
That little bit of snow did a lot of damage today due to the below zero temperatures. Guess they needed to use more sand…
Arming Wisconsin’s Teachers???
Following three violent school shooting that struck the nation in the past two weeks, including one in a small rural town in Wisconsin, State Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) announced his plans to introduce legislation that will allow teachers, principals, administrators, and other school personnel to carry concealed weapons. The lawmaker said that while his idea may not be politically correct, it has worked effectively in other countries.
Teachers should be in charge of teaching our nation’s children, not gunning them down. If there is a security or safety threat, the School District should bring in security guards or foster a stronger relationship with the community police.
Having a loaded weapon in the classroom is not a valid answer as the risk of abuse is huge. What happens when a teacher goes crazy because they can’t control little Jimmy? Before it was handled with a little physical abuse, now little Jimmy will have a Glock pointed at him? What happens when the high schooler over powers the teacher, and now has a loaded weapon?
Representative Lasee points out that it has worked in other countries, his usual example is Israel. Does he realize the situations are no where near similar? In Israel the threat is from terrorists and extremists, and everyone lives in fear. In Wisconsin, the threat is children who have been bullied and are emotionally unstable. A teacher who shoots a terrorist is one thing, but a teacher who shoots a 13 year old boy?
It’s a good thing this bill will never pass, especially in a Wisconsin, a state still struggling to pass a normal concealed carry bill…
2006 New Year’s Resolutions
Well a new year is upon us which means I have to put together some resolutions for 2006. Due to my deployment I’m going to keep the list short this year.
1. Stay Alive
Being in a combat zone I feel this is important to my health and welfare for the new year.
2. Learn Spanish
Everyone is talking about taking online classes to make progress towards their degrees while we are off duty. I only have two classes left for my major in Social Work: Social Work Practice III. and a Field Experience (internship). Neither of these can be done online or through the mail. I figure learning Spanish will be the most productive thing I can do to help me in the civilian world.
3. Get in Shape
yeah, I had to throw this traditional one in. Doing PT is good but eating three full meals a day with a desk job can cancel out the effects of the PT.
We’ll see how I do!