Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A crisis action team formed last year by President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong at Mississippi State is reviewing security measures and suggesting improved communication strategies in the wake of the recent Virginia Tech tragedy.
Mike White, dean of students and the university's CAT co-chair, said a cross-campus team has conducted four emergency response drills over the last six months, responding to simulated incidents that ranged from a hostage situation to a chemical spill.
"We have worked closely with local officials in our planning and response mechanisms, and we've improved our emergency coordination with each drill," he said.
In the last week, the team completed a review of existing emergency communication channels, including mass e-mails, instant messaging, Web announcements, phone banks, announcements through local media outlets, and direct radio communication with law enforcement and emergency responders.
"We identified a comprehensive list of existing communication channels that range from low-tech to high-tech," White said.
At Foglesong's request, the group also suggested new strategies for communicating quickly and widely in the event of a major emergency incident.
Foglesong said he has approved pursuing options such as text messaging to cell phones, loudspeakers across campus, including one at the central-campus Chapel of Memories; and emergency pagers for all building supervisors.
"As an additional measure, we also will be increasing our random patrols of the entire MSU campus," he said. "The safety of our students, faculty and staff is a top priority."
Foglesong said that the first line of defense in ensuring safety is "to be vigilant and to report unusual or troublesome behavior." In an e-mail sent after the Virginia Tech shootings, he reminded those on the MSU campus to program emergency numbers into their cell phones, including that of the MSU Police (662-325-2121).
"Each one of us can help Mississippi State be prepared for the unexpected," he said.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dean White at 662-325-3442 or mike@saffairs.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.