Students head back to class at Ferrum College

Associated Press
Published: March 10, 2008

10 On your Side’s Scott Leamon will have an update on the security changes tonight on WSLS at 5:30 p.m.

FERRUM, Va. (AP) - Classes resumed at Ferrum College on Monday for the first time since the school was locked down Feb. 26 after reports of a gunman on campus.
    The small private college south of Roanoke went under a daylong lockdown late last month after a member of the housekeeping staff reported seeing a young man walk into a residence hall with a handgun.
    Following the lockdown, the United Methodist Church-affiliated school canceled classes the rest of the week, allowing students to leave early for spring break.
    Its 1,200 students returned to the 700-acre campus on Monday, school spokeswoman Natalie Faunce said. No students chose to refrain from returning to the school after the incident.
    “Students are really anxious to get back into the swing of things,“ she said.
    The college continues to have increased police presence and video surveillance on and around campus following the incident, Faunce said.
    College President Jennifer Braaten activated an alert system and ordered the lockdown on Feb. 26. as a precaution as about 300 law enforcement officers searched the campus. Faunce said the school is reviewing the incident as well as its policies and procedures.
    “We’ve been getting a lot of praise from parents and students as well,“ Faunce said. “It’s all been very positive.“
    At Virginia Tech last April, a student gunman killed 32 people and committed suicide on the campus in Blacksburg, which is less than 50 miles from Ferrum.
    Franklin County authorities are still following up on leads as they look for the reported Ferrum gunman.
    The man, whom authorities believe had violent intentions, intimidated a housekeeper, said Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Maj. Josh Carter.
    —-
    On the Net:
    Ferrum College: http://www.ferrum.edu