\nEven Daytona State College has felt the pressure of potential violence. On Nov. 25 and Dec. 3 and 7, DSC was wracked by bomb threats on campus. That\u2019s no secret to the thousands of students, faculty and staff alerted by the College\u2019s Rave Alert, an emergency alert system capable of delivering text and voice messages and email messages. One of the alerts was before dawn, causing many to lose sleep. All of the threats resulted in lost productivity on campus, as well as the cancellation of some classes and the lock-down of buildings.<\/p>\n
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The events of last semester reinforced the idea that tragedy can occur anywhere at any time. But what can college campus security do to further prevent unforeseen situations? Second shift lead supervisor Rick Simpson of DSC\u2019s Campus Safety believes students should be alert, but not alarmed. By Mikal Hickley Special to In Motion College traditionally is a place to learn and it used to be rare for students to think about sudden tragedies on campus. Today, no one needs to be reminded about the many college shootings and murders over the last few years in the Continue reading Being alert, not alarmed key to campus safety<\/span>
\nAccording to Simpson, DSC\u2019s Campus Safety patrols are based upon a number of variables, including special events, size of crowds and trouble spots that may exist on campus.
\n\u201cIt varies based upon the situation on campus,\u201d he said, declining to comment on how many patrols are on duty at any given time.
\nIn recent years DSC\u2019s Campus Safety, as is the case at many other colleges, has teamed up with local law enforcement officers to cover the College. The Daytona Beach Police Department loans officers to the campus to help back up those already on duty. All DSC officers receive training in conflict resolution, emergency response, CPR and first aid, along with the protection of campus personnel and property. Monthly, they issue campus crime reports that are posted online.
\nThe Campus Safety\u2019s website \u2014 www.daytonastate.edu\/campus_safety\/<\/a> \u2014 also contains plenty of information on how to avoid dangerous situations and what to do if there is an event on campus. In addition to awareness and education services, the department issues ID cards, issue parking decals and offer campus information to visitors and students alike. It\u2019s a lot for a little department and as the College continues to grow, so does the push for more officers in a time of shrinking budgets.
\nAs Bill Tillard, director of Campus Safety, sees it, there are not enough officers in the world to cover every possible problem on any campus. That is why he emphasizes the importance of \u201cIf you see something, say something.\u201d
\nAs outlined on the Campus Safety website, \u201cDaytona State helps you maintain your personal safety by sharing information you can use to reduce your chances of becoming the victim of a crime or accident. We believe that an informed college is a safer college. The information provided by Campus Safety is designed to inform, advise and alert you about Daytona State policies and procedures on crime awareness and reporting. \u201c
\nTillard says it is important that everyone familiarize themselves with that information. Being pro-active goes a long way towards helping the College’s efforts to create and maintain a safe environment in which everyone can live, study and work.
\nDown the street at Bethune-Cookman University, student Brian Smith, a former DSC student, feels that DSC does a better job of protecting its campus. Police officers often patrol DSC\u2019s campus at random times during the day. There is also a stationary police vehicle unit that is parked outside of Building 100 (when exiting the building, it\u2019s on the left side parking lot). Simpson said it has been approximately two years since the Daytona Beach Police Department was incorporated into Campus Safety and some officers patrol during peak daylight hours.
\nAt Bethune-Cookman, Smith said they do not police officers incorporated into the school\u2019s security. \u201cWe just have straight campus security, there are no police roaming around,\u201d he said, adding that the university could hire better security to completely cover the campus.
\nIn the past 15 months, 13 Bethune-Cookman students have been shot, according to news reports. Of the 13, however, only three were involved in a shooting on campus, which was outside of the music building. All victims suffered minor injuries. The rest were shot at off-campus parties and at an apartment complex, resulting in three deaths.
\nIn a statement from the university, officials at the time said, “At Bethune-Cookman University, our first priority is the safety and well-being of our students. Our Critical Incident Care Team is currently providing grief counseling and support services to students who are in need. This is a very unfortunate incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, loved ones and fellow classmates of these students.”
\nClearly, students\u2019 safety is every college\u2019s number one priority. Yet there is no such thing as a \u201ccompletely safe\u201d school because sudden violence and crimes are often random and unavoidable in modern American life.
\nAs mentioned, college campus security is everybody\u2019s business. Students should report any suspicious activity for their own, as well as the school\u2019s protection.
\nRegarding the 2015 fall semester bomb threats, Simpson said Campus Safety found out about some of them because they were informed and alerted of the threats, some of which were written on whiteboards in classrooms and a bathroom stall.
\nAnother crucial step in securing students\u2019 safety is signing up for Rave Alerts. Information should be reviewed and updated as necessary. Visit https:\/\/www.getrave.com\/login\/daytonastate<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to log in to your Rave Alert Account. The system is 100 percent spam free and information will not be shared.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"