Campus security changes are urged

Members of an Oklahoma task force formed after the Virginia Tech slayings say more trained counselors, better crisis training and tailored notification systems are needed to prevent tragedies here.

The Campus Life and Safety & Security Task Force is drafting recommendations to go to Gov. Brad Henry and lawmakers in January.

In a meeting Tuesday in Oklahoma City, the group said changes already are taking place on campuses across the state, but more must be done.

"Although Virginia Tech is the nightmare that got (this) started, we lose students every week in the state of Oklahoma to student violence, alcohol-fueled violence and suicide,” said Lee Bird, vice president of student affairs at Oklahoma State University. "There are many issues surrounding the safety and security of our students.”

The task force hopes to formalize its recommendations at its next meeting Dec. 13.

Bird and others said more and better-trained counselors are needed to help troubled students and those with mental health issues.

Some campuses don't have any on-site counselors and others don't have enough to meet the need. Also, the state lacks enough training programs for counselors.

While campus police are joining more with local law enforcement to coordinate training and response, officers also need to be trained to deal with people with mental illness and how to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation, others have said.

Joe Harris, an attorney for the University of Oklahoma, said new procedures need to be developed to deal with students or employees who may be a danger to themselves or others but haven't done anything requiring police intervention.

He suggests that every campus form a task force to evaluate threats and make recommendations to the college president.

Colleges across the nation have scrutinized their safety and crisis response plans after shootings last spring that killed 33 at Virginia Tech.

In Oklahoma, many campuses have installed new telecommunications systems so they can notify students and employees of an event on campus.

Such systems can be tailored so that they reach everyone by phone, e-mail or text message, or a select group.

Oklahoma City University has turned its campus security office into a police station, which helped it gain federal and state money and training, President Tom McDaniel said.

"It's been a big improvement for us,” he said. "We've been talking about it for 18 months but more seriously after this task force was formed.”