http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/missourist_337.mp3
Missouri State University's Emergency Response Task Force released its initial report this morning. The group says Missouri State is a safe campus but should consider making several improvements to increase campus safety. KSMU's Jana Greer has more.
Missouri State President Michael Nietzel formed the Emergency Response Task Force following the shootings at Virginia Tech earlier this year. The group has been reviewing campus security's policies and procedures. The task force released its initial report this morning and it includes several recommendations. Ken McClure is the Associate Vice President for Administrative Services at Missouri State. He says communication on campus is one of the main problems.
The group recommends improvements to campus communication systems, additional faculty, staff and student training, and increased personnel, both in the university's safety department and at the Springfield Police substation on campus. The report also recommends retro-fitting doors with thumb locks and establishing "safe rooms". The costs for the committee's recommendations exceed 3.4 million dollars that will be budgeted in over the next few years. The campus task force will produce a second report by December first that will look at security issues related to other threats like tornados, fire and earthquakes. There are 13 people in the task force consisting of Missouri State staff, faculty, students and members of the Springfield Police Department.