Spring Break
University improves safety procedures
by Anya Bergman
News | 8/26/08
Posted online at 3:51 AM EST on 8/26/08
As the fall semester begins, Brandeis will be met with an enhanced emergency response system, including armed campus police, sirens and various ways of contacting students in case of emergency.
According to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, "most of the [Public Safety] officers have gone through training" to carry firearms and five more officers have yet to undergo training. Callahan would not specify the exact number of officers who are armed.
A firearms advisory committee, composed of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate representatives and chaired by Executive Vice President Peter French, developed a policy regarding firearms in a report last May.
Key parts of the report include the continuum of force, the first step of which is verbalization and the final step of which is deadly force, that officers must follow in dealing with situations that may require the use of firearms. The report also has an outline of the training officers must undergo before being armed, including sensitivity training developed by an outside consultant about students from various backgrounds as well as firearms training with the Waltham police.
According to Zack Herman '12, arming campus police is "not necessarily good or bad; it provides a more secure situation."
"I think that it gives [campus police officers] legitimacy," said Elise Diamond '09.
In addition, Public Safety officers will now be able to send out short messages to alert the campus in case of emergency, said Callahan. The public safety Web page on the Brandeis Web site says information during emergencies will be available through broadcast messages on office phones, plasma screens around campus and on the Brandeis University home page.
"I think it will initially get the information out there, … so at least people are in tune to where [a situation has] happened and what is happening," said Callahan.
An important aspect of the Brandeis Emergency Notification System, which encompasses the additional safety measures undertaken since last fall, is "to be able to reach members of the Brandeis community in as many ways as possible" in case of emergency, according to Chief Information Security Officer Dennis Devlin.
According to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, "most of the [Public Safety] officers have gone through training" to carry firearms and five more officers have yet to undergo training. Callahan would not specify the exact number of officers who are armed.
A firearms advisory committee, composed of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate representatives and chaired by Executive Vice President Peter French, developed a policy regarding firearms in a report last May.
Key parts of the report include the continuum of force, the first step of which is verbalization and the final step of which is deadly force, that officers must follow in dealing with situations that may require the use of firearms. The report also has an outline of the training officers must undergo before being armed, including sensitivity training developed by an outside consultant about students from various backgrounds as well as firearms training with the Waltham police.
According to Zack Herman '12, arming campus police is "not necessarily good or bad; it provides a more secure situation."
"I think that it gives [campus police officers] legitimacy," said Elise Diamond '09.
In addition, Public Safety officers will now be able to send out short messages to alert the campus in case of emergency, said Callahan. The public safety Web page on the Brandeis Web site says information during emergencies will be available through broadcast messages on office phones, plasma screens around campus and on the Brandeis University home page.
"I think it will initially get the information out there, … so at least people are in tune to where [a situation has] happened and what is happening," said Callahan.
An important aspect of the Brandeis Emergency Notification System, which encompasses the additional safety measures undertaken since last fall, is "to be able to reach members of the Brandeis community in as many ways as possible" in case of emergency, according to Chief Information Security Officer Dennis Devlin.
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