NJ 101.5: A Plan to Warn Jersey College Kids if a Lunatic Goes Nuts on Campus

NJ101.5
by David Matthau

Jersey colleges and universities could soon be forced to develop emergency communication systems - so everyone on campus can be alerted if there's a bomb threat, a crazed gunman on the loose, or some other dangerous situation.

Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt says after the Virginia Tech shooting rampage - where 32 people were killed - we need to have "a comprehensive system in place, and ensure that our universities are standardizing these types of securities and efficiencies."

Her legislation calls for "each one of our college campuses to develop a comprehensive safety, security, emergency management system - and have it documented and submitted to Homeland Security…it doesn't benefit the university to have a system in place, and not share it with the proper outside authorities, because at some time, you're going to need that outside additional support."

She adds "many kids are coming to our colleges with mental health issues, and we don't have the ability to pre-screen- it's all based on self-disclosure, and at any point in time, somebody can crack, and somebody can go off the deep end, and do something that's really erratic…we have to remember that our colleges and universities are responsible for livelihoods - they're responsible for young people who might not know, and depend upon the administration of a university or school to ensure their safety."