Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety Meeting
Capitol Annex, Room 125
Frankfort, Kentucky
April 24, 2007
Meeting Notes
Members Present: Teresa Barton, Travis Manley, Joseph Cline, Wayne Hall, John Akers, William Payne, Rick Benningfield, Rodney Raby, Mike Hanley, Ed Sergent, Gary Cox and Gail Minger
Members Absent: Eric King, Michael LaCount and Richard Peddicord
Guests Present: Barbara Pauley, Task Force general counsel; Joe Dittman, U of L
* The meeting was called to order by Gail Minger. Barbara Pauley was introduced as the general counsel to the Task Force.
* Mrs. Minger stated that now is the time for the Task Force to start formulating recommendations for the report. She asked that we have a moment of silence for all students that have lost their lives on college campuses. After the moment of silence, Mrs. Minger introduced General Norman Arflack. General Arflack will be heading up the work group newly formed by Governor Fletcher. This group was formed in the wake of the shootings at Virginia Tech to closely examine the emergency plans currently in place on Kentucky campuses.
* General Arflack addressed the Task Force and stated that it is not the intention of this group to interfere with the work of the Task Force. He stated that they are concerned with, among other things, the ability to mass communicate with students in the event of an emergency.
* General Arflack has asked all of the colleges in Kentucky for their emergency response plans. He stated that it is not their intention to change any of these plans, but to extract helpful information and make it known to the colleges to help them improve. He also stated that there should be a commonality among the emergency notification procedures that are in place. He wants this work group to be able to offer guidance to colleges.
* General Arflack stated that the first work group meeting would be May 2. He wanted to reiterate that they do not wish to work in opposition to the Task Force and they fully support the mission of the Task Force.
* Mrs. Minger told General Arflack that the Task Force was also working to collect different plans and policies from the colleges. He stated that he was certain there would be some overlap with both groups requesting information from the colleges. He does not want to bombard the colleges with multiple requests from both groups.
* General Arflack said that he hopes to have a good product for schools that are struggling to compose an emergency plan. He has received many good suggestions and ideas from citizens across the state.
* Mrs. Minger said that she has been talking with people at the FBI and Higher Education about ideas for getting information to students quickly during an emergency. The Campus Public Safety news stated that a problem with relying on one method of communication is that technology is always changing and students may not view the technology in the same way as administrators. Mrs. Minger said that the one thing she has been told by all of these sources is that the notification procedures should be layered. Colleges shouldn’t rely on one system, but many different methods.
* Mrs. Minger pointed out that in reviewing some of the policies sent in by the colleges, she noticed that the gun policies varied from campus to campus. Some colleges stated that guns were prohibited but nothing more and some stated consequences for having a gun on campus.
* Mrs. Minger informed the Task Force members that the Department of Public Protection is currently developing a Web site for the Task Force. She asked for any suggestions on content, resources, a list of FAQs, etc. She told the Task Force to let her know if they thought of anything.
* Mrs. Minger stated that both of the subgroups should start compiling information.
* Mrs. Minger asked that whoever would like to address the group, please come forward and do so.
* Task Force member Travis Manley asked a question of General Arflack’s working group. He asked if it is their intention to develop or fund a statewide Instant Messaging system for colleges. He stated that the schools are being bombarded with companies trying to sell these types of systems. Teresa Barton responded that as of right now, there is not any funding set aside for this group, but there could possibly be once the group gets further into their findings.
* A visitor, Lydia Noel with the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, introduced herself to the group. She stated that her area of expertise is sexual violence. She presented many statistics to the group regarding stalking, sexual violence and rape. Within her research, she found that there are many recommendations available to colleges about how to deal with these issues on their campuses. She stated that clear policies need to be in place and responsibilities of students needs to be defined. It was also suggested that there be campus-based response teams in place to deal with these issues.
* Gary Cox asked Miss Noel what could be done to encourage victims to report any assaults or incidents. She said that education and knowledge among students, faculty and administrators could help with the reporting of these crimes.
* Rodney Raby stated that there is a good deal of intimidation involved with the reporting of these incidents and education could possibly help that.
* Mrs. Minger also reiterated that everyone should be educated about sexual assault issues and about the importance of reporting incidents.
* Miss Noel handed all the Task Force members a handout outlining all of the statistics she presented to the group.
* Travis introduced David Hibbard and Gary Beach to the Task Force. They are with the University of Kentucky’s Fire Marshal’s Office.
* Mr. Beach began by telling the group that he is confident in the safety of the buildings on UK’s campus. He said he understands that there were pictures taken of areas of concern on campus and he would like to address those. Mr. Beach stated that Kirwin Tower (22 stories) has emergency lighting, stairs, evacuation plans posted, fire alarms and a dispatch notification system in place. In regards to the spacing of sprinkler heads, Mr. Beach stated that the system was approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
* In regards to the concerns about having only one sprinkler in the dorm rooms, Mr. Beach said he is confident that the sprinkler would throw water to all the walls in that room. He spoke of one situation where a stereo shorted out and caught on fire but was put out by the sprinkler. Mr. Beach said that the low-rise dormitories were equipped with sprinklers about 5 or 6 years ago. In these low-rise dorms, the sprinkler head is in the sleeping part of the room.
* Mr. Beach wanted to assure the group that UK is dedicated to the safety of its students. Like any school, they face issues with funding, staff, etc. but they are committed to safety.
* Mike Haney asked about one instance at UK where a light fixture was blocking a sprinkler head. Mr. Beach stated that although there may be a few minor deficiencies, he feels confident saying that they are 94-95 percent efficient on campus.
* Mr. Raby asked about the sprinklers in the dorm rooms that have a partition. He asked how the sprinkler could water the entire room when the head is placed in the partitioned part. Mr. Beach stated that, in the instance he discussed earlier (with the stereo shorting out); the sprinkler was able to reach the entire room. Mrs. Minger reiterated that the sprinkler behind the partitioned wall concerned her as well when she visited campus. Mr. Beach stated that, although there is some obstruction, there is also a working smoke detector in those rooms.
* Mr. Hanley pointed out that all components should be in place in residence halls. There should be sprinklers, smoke detectors, solid corridors, etc. and they should all work together.
* Mr. Raby stated that early warning systems are designed to save lives.
* Mr. Beach stated that he would be willing to host any Task Force member on UK’s campus because he’s proud of what they have accomplished there.
* Mrs. Minger pointed out that, like mass communication efforts, safety efforts should be layered as well. There should be fire-stopping, sprinklers, etc; therefore, if one system fails another system is still in place.
* Mr. Beach told the Task Force that the most important component of fire safety is the individual person.
* Barbara Pauley asked Mr. Beach if fire drills are regularly conducted. Mr. Beach said that drills are conducted twice in the first semester and, depending on the results, again in the second semester. He said that they conducted a fire drill with a smoke simulator machine last year.
* Mr. Haney asked if there were regular room inspections or checks in UK’s dorms. Mr. Beach said that they will check rooms for fire prevention purposes, but they usually ask the students’ permission first.
* Mr. Raby asked Mr. Beach what the duties of the RAs and RDs are. Mr. Beach stated that the RAs and RDs take the safety procedures very seriously.
* Todd Johnson, who was sitting in the crowd, spoke up and stated that he walked around UK’s campus with Mr. Beach. Mr. Johnson stated that he doesn’t think funding problems were the reason for the improper installation of some of the sprinklers. Mr. Johnson pointed out an area in a residence hall that had a sprinkler head improperly placed. Mr. Beach disagreed about the spacing of the sprinkler head. Teresa Barton asked Mrs. Minger if Mr. Johnson and Mr. Beach could continue their dialogue after the meeting with one another rather than taking up time during the Task Force meeting to do so. Mrs. Minger agreed and Mr. Beach and Mr. Hibbard returned to their seats.
* Alicia Nordman, with the company Intercall, asked to address the Task Force. The Task Force agreed that she should speak with Mrs. Minger privately after the meeting regarding any business proposals.
* Bill Payne stated that he wanted to meet briefly with his sub-committee after the Task Force meeting.
* Mrs. Minger stated that the next meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 2 p.m.
* Wayne Hall informed the Task Force that there was an arrest made in regards to the recent bomb threats being made on U of L’s campus.
* The meeting was adjourned.