April 16 Recommendations Reviewed

By Angela Hatcher
WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor
Published: March 19, 2008

400 recommendations are now 33 initiatives, University President Charles Steger believes could make Virginia Tech safer than it was on April 16th.
 
“Was there anything presented today, at all, where you’re thinking, you know that actually might help?  No.  No.“

This group of Tech students listened to every comment and question.  Afterward we asked what they thought.

In the meeting one professor told the panel,
 
“My students are anxious and a lot of faculty are anxious about the possibility of increased, copy cat violence.“

Ken Miller isn’t anxious, but can understand why his fellow students might be.

“It is a significant day and if there is someone who wants to hurt others, that would be a time that he would likely pick.“, says Miller.

This comment to the panel comes from a student,

“If you just look like you’re a college aged student, you’ll be able to follow anyone into the dorm.“

But as far as the possible solution, Nina Damoriano says,  “Swipe cards are just a gesture.  Just a public gesture to make people feel safer.“

All this costs a lot.  Brian Scott insists the one thing that’s not on the list would save both lives and money.

“They’ve spent 10 million trying to make campus safer and yet all of the things they have instituted, will not save my life if there’s an active shooter in my classroom. Being able to carry my concealed weapon costs the university zero.“, says Scott.

Tech spokesman Larry Hincker admits nothing is full proof.

“Whether or not you can prevent that kind of thing on an acute basis remains to be seen.“, says Hincker.

But they’ve got to try.