Monday, April 23, 2007
I want to thank you for your outpouring of support and the condolences that you sent to Virginia Tech students, professors and their families. We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy. So thank you for taking the time to express your support and concern. It helps to hear and see a visible expression of your sympathy.
However, this tragedy requires a few more words and observations. Maybe they will help you and the chancellor as you decide what changes to make at the University of Kansas. I grew up in Fairway and graduated from the University in 1969.
I came to Charlottesville, the home of the University of Virginia, in 1971 and assumed my first professional position as the assistant to the city manager, who was also a KU graduate. From here I went on to become the city manager of Roanoke, Va. Roanoke is 35 miles from Virginia Tech and has the same supportive and emotional connection to the university as we did living in Fairway, with the University of Kansas. My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren live there today.
City managers are required to make many decisions that affect the safety of the residents and visitors to their city. The difficulty of those decisions is of no interest to the population. They want the right decision made at the right time. Citizens have a right to make such a demand. Speed and efficiency are highly valued and required in city government.
Universities operate in a different environment. Speed and efficiency are not as highly valued. The time to write, do research and debate is a higher value than efficiency and it should be. Fundamental research and the writing of books can take years, if not decades to complete.
Unfortunately, these two cultures can collide when a public safety crises arrives or is anticipated. The Daily Progress, our local newspaper, said that the president of the University of Virginia will install an instant messaging system for emergencies by the beginning of next academic year and that Virginia Tech has been considering installing such a system for many months. These are not speedy decisions.
You must be asking: “What can we do to insure that the University of Kansas campus is as safe as possible?” I suggest the following for your consideration. First, tell the chancellor what emergency information you want, when you want it and how you want to receive it. Second, tell the chancellor when you want this system in place. Third, look at the lock down procedures and see if they are acceptable. Fourth, look at the experience and credentials of the individual responsible for public safety and to whom they report. In my opinion, they should probably report directly to the chancellor. Why? So they can quickly give unvarnished recommendations directly to the chancellor without fear of disagreeing with their boss. The University’s current system may be perfect. But, whatever it is, it needs to be tested with real life scenarios on an annual basis. The Montgomery County, Va., Hospital that received most of the injured patients runs real time drills twice a year. They say that those drills and the changes they inspired, insured that they would be ready to deal with multiple casualties and save multiple lives.
There are many academic issues arising from this tragedy that should be discussed next academic year.
Do we care? If so, what can be done to change it?
Best wishes, stay safe, ask questions and only accept concrete and measurable solutions.
Bern Ewert
Charlottesville, Va.
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