Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety Meeting
Capitol Annex, Room 125
Frankfort, Kentucky
April 3, 2007
Meeting Notes
Members Present: Teresa Barton, Travis Manley, Joseph Cline, Wayne Hall, John Akers, William Payne, Richard Peddicord and Gail Minger
Members Absent: Gary Cox, Ed Sergent, Eric King, Michael LaCount, Rick Benningfield, Rodney Raby and Mike Haney
Guests Present: Virginia White, aunt of Katie Autry; Todd Johnson, Road Sprinkler Fitters and David “Doc” Gahafer
* The meeting was called to order by Gail Minger. The Task Force members and guests were introduced and the mission of the Task Force was read.
* Mrs. Minger reported on the statewide forums that were held throughout March. Mrs. Minger stated that some of the forums were very encouraging, some were mediocre and some were disappointing.
* Two examples of completed Campus Safety and Security Preliminary surveys were handed out to the Task Force (one from a university staff member and one from a student). Mrs. Minger directed everyone’s attention to the survey that was completed by the staff member. She stated that, based on the answers given, these surveys were basically useless.
* Mrs. Minger told the Task Force members that these statewide forums allowed her to see more obstacles, such as university unwillingness to be forthcoming with information regarding campus safety.
* Mrs. Minger told the group that she was contacted by someone whose wife and daughter recently attended an orientation at Western Kentucky University. The women asked a university representative about how many sexual assaults have recently occurred on WKU’s campus. They were told that there were “none, to their knowledge.” Mrs. Minger contacted the WKU Chief of Police to follow up on this response and was told that there have been seven sexual offenses reported since January 1, 2006, on campus. Mrs. Minger used this example to highlight some of the problems that must be combated on Kentucky campuses.
* Mrs. Minger reported that some of the most successful forums were the ones held at Northern Kentucky University and the University of Louisville. The president of NKU was in attendance at their forum and the president of Jeffersonville Community College was in attendance at the U of L forum. Mrs. Minger was pleased with the dialogue that occurred between students and faculty/staff at each of these forums about their safety needs.
* After Mrs. Minger asked for feedback from Task Force members, John Akers stated that he doesn’t want the members to continually overlook progress that has been made at the universities. He stated that he does not believe the surveys given at the forums are very informative, because they are not a representative sample.
* Mr. Akers said that, as a task force, he does not want to ignore the efforts of those working hard to improve.
* Mrs. Minger said that the survey was not intended to be an accurate sampling and agreed that it provided little insight into the problems that exist on campuses.
* Bill Payne also stated that the surveys were never meant to be a true sampling.
* Mr. Akers reiterated that he would like to see progress and successes among Kentucky campuses highlighted along with areas in need of improvement. He would like to see a balance between these two areas.
* Mrs. Minger introduced Virginia White and invited her to address the Task Force. Ms. White is the aunt of Katie Autry, who died in 2003 at Western Kentucky University.
* Ms. White informed the Task Force that she was not there to “grind an axe” with anyone and wants to support the Task Force in their efforts. She wants to help and be supportive so another family does not have to experience the tragedy that hers did.
* Ms. White mentioned that at the time of her niece’s death, WKU had all the proper policies and procedures in place at the residence halls; however, they were not being followed. She stated that Katie’s assailant walked into the dorm without anyone questioning him.
* Ms. White informed the Task Force that she wants students to be able to enjoy themselves at college, but be safe at the same time.
* After Ms. White’s testimony, Mrs. Minger asked if any other guests wanted to address the Task Force. Todd Johnson, a fire sprinkler fitter, asked permission to address the group.
* Mr. Johnson introduced himself as a parent of a college student and a sprinkler fitter. He began by stating that, in March of 2006, he informed Murray State University, the fire marshal and the Planned Review Board that the underground water system (for sprinkler use) at the construction site of Murray’s Clark Hall was being installed by an unlicensed contractor. After reporting this, Mr. Johnson was informed that a licensed contractor would sign off on the system evaluation and assume all liability. Mr. Johnson stated that this situation wasn’t about assuming liability, but about the safety and well-being of the students who live in that residence hall.
* Mr. Johnson informed the group that he has visited dorms at Murray State and the University of Kentucky and noticed numerous problems with the sprinkler systems (i.e. spacing problems, sprinklers being covered up). He stated that, although these systems are required to be inspected annually, those inspections are not occurring. He feels as though the area of sprinkler inspection needs to be addressed.
* Mr. Johnson stated that his company utilizes a demo tool on college campuses to educate about fire safety. This demo trailer has been to UK and Kentucky State, among others.
* Mr. Johnson recommended that the language on the statutes or laws regarding sprinklers be changed.
* Mr. Akers asked Mr. Johnson if the problem sprinkler systems he mentioned were possibly compliant at one time. Mr. Johnson said that these systems were never compliant and have always had many code violations.
* Mr. Manley asked Mr. Johnson if UK has been made aware of the problems he recognized with their systems. Mr. Johnson stated that he has informed UK officials of the problems that he observed.
* David Gahafer joined Mr. Johnson and introduced himself as a sprinkler fitter as well. He stated that his only agenda was to make sure that no one else died in a campus fire. He stated that there is too much technology available to have the kinds of problems that exist.
* Mr. Johnson recommended that a licensed sprinkler fitter be on staff with state government to focus only on these problems.
* Joseph Cline asked Mr. Johnson if, even though the sprinklers aren’t to code in some residence halls, they would still be able to cover distances and extinguish a fire. Mr. Johnson replied that with the poor spacing of these sprinklers, they would not work efficiently or properly in case of a fire.
* Mrs. Minger informed the Task Force that she had walked around the Clark Hall construction site at MSU. She was approached by two men who informed her that they were licensed sprinkler contractors. She informed the men that she knew this to be untrue. After walking around the site, accompanied by appropriate officials, she told them she expected the system to be dug up and reinstalled by a licensed contractor. MSU assured Mrs. Minger that they would dig up the system. Within a year, the system was dug up and replaced.
* Mrs. Minger told the Task Force that the repeated bad practices at Kentucky campuses are frustrating.
* Mr. Johnson further explained the problems with having the underground portion of a sprinkler system improperly installed. He said that if the systems are improperly flushed or cleared of debris, the debris could travel through to the sprinkler head and stop the water flow.
* Mr. Akers stated that the sprinkler systems should be inspected.
* The group discussed the possibility or need for a sprinkler fitting licensing law of sorts.
* Mr. Akers expressed concern for the fact that the group is being made aware of major problems on college campuses and feels as if legal counsel should be present at these meetings.
* Mrs. Minger said that she would look into having legal counsel present at future meetings.
* The Task Force agreed that the regulatory issues and inspection issues need to be addressed.
* Mrs. Minger asked that the sub-committees meet before or during the next full meeting. The next Task Force meeting was set for April 24 at 2 p.m.