Loren Bryant
Staff Writer
lbryant@valdosta.edu

There have been a number of bomb threats on campus this year. Majority of the threats have been aimed at Centennial Hall, but the latest threat was against the University Center. The threat was false, but what if it was real?

There are classes going on in the UC and many important offices full of people at all times of the day. Yeah, yeah, the University made a newsletter with advice on how to report the threat and take precautions, but who actually read it?

There is a system called “Connect-ED Campus Alert,” but for the Centennial Hall threats it was not even used. It was not used because two-way radios, cells phones and other electronic devices could set off a bomb. A more effective strategy is needed to protect our safety on campus.

In fact, our campus is susceptible to almost any threat; we have no real type of security on campus minus the residence halls that need access cards. Besides everyone knows that if someone stands at the door long enough a passerby will surely open it for them, and then security is breached. They walk in, walk out and no one even knows what is going to happen.

At other Universities they have better protection methods because you must use an access card to get in every building and there are gates that only open long enough for one person to get through at a time.

We should at least block off the main perimeter around campus with more gates and require electronic access to each and every building.

VSU needs to invest in better security measures to protect its students and staff.

This is a crazy world and although some people are oblivious to the dangers in Lowndes County
that does not make the dangers any less.