Guns on Campus

Where do you stand on the issue of whether or not individuals should be permitted to carry guns on campus? Recently, I was given the opportunity to share my opinion! Here is a brand new article from Security Management magazine that addresses the issue - http://www.securitymanagement.com/article/carry-or-not-carry-008824.
Do you agree with me? Why or why not?

Sunday Vandalism - Summer Vandalism?

This story about a 13-year-old caught vandalizing the local Middle School in Seattle, Washington on a Sunday afternoon (http://www.kirotv.com/news/28139921/detail.html) should cause us to consider our summer operations.
How does a weekend vandalism incident relate to summer operations? In both instances, we face difficulties with access control and supervision.
How are you addressing those difficulties? What practices and measures do you have in place to make this a safe summer?

Enjoying Those Graduation Ceremonies?

Check out this story where 14 people were FINED for interrupting the reading of names during a graduation ceremony in South Carolina - http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/2011/05/26/20110526loud-cheering-graduation-ticketed-disorderly-conduct.html?source=nletter-entertainment.
I have attended numerous graduation ceremonies where yelling, excessive cheering, and air horns have not only kept the following graduate's name from being heard, but flat-out annoyed other attendees.
At first blush, this story might make it seem as though the concept of fining for bad behavior is too heavy-handed, but... When the announcements (both written and verbal) clearly call for courtesy during an event that is already too lengthy, I applaud the use of appropriate consequences.
Please note, however, that my applause is figurative only!
What are your thoughts?

Terrorism Threat Level Colors Change

What color terrorism threat level are we currently operating under:

A) Yellow
B) Orange
C) Red
D) None of the Above

If you answered "A," you are mostly right. If you answered "B," you are right only for the Transportation Sector (i.e. flying). If you answered "C," you are wrong! If you answered "D," you will be right effective 04/26.

Read this article and post your thoughts - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570704576274982202887072.html?KEYWORDS=security.

Another School Shooting

Here is the link to the Middle School shooting in Indiana last Friday morning: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110326/NEWS07/103260326/-1/RSS. Once again, the student who committed this act of violence had been expelled and should NOT have been on campus. This is now the third school shooting in 2011 that involved a perpetrator that had been expelled or relieved of work duties. Let's learn lessons from these incidents! What are your separation procedures? How are local responders notified and involved? Under what conditions are separated persons permitted to return? Please add your thoughts and suggestions.

School Shooting Game

HOUSTON, TX
Look out for a new video game called "School Shooter: North American Tour 2012." More information can be found at: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/entertainment/games/110301-school-shooting-spree-game-making-waves and http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108065-Inside-the-Sick-Mind-of-a-School-Shooter-Mod.
Not yet released, this "game" by Checkerboard Studios will enable players to indiscriminately kill students on a school campus.

What effect do these kind of violent games have on kids?
How should school stakeholders respond?

School Security Investigation

MARINETTE, WI
After a three-month investigation, police released a rather anticlimactic final report last Friday regarding the hostage/suicide incident that occurred in northern Wisconsin high school last November - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110304/ap_on_re_us/us_wisconsin_classroom_hostages_3.

While this may be one of those instances that was not "foreseeable" or even "preventable," I would like to know your suggestions for improving the following two critical areas.

• Access Control
• Emergency Preparedness

What are your thoughts?