Dear Editor,
As the director of the University’s Office of Safety and Emergency Preparedness, I appreciate The Cavalier Daily using the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech to highlight campus safety. We could not agree more.
In the op-ed, The Cavalier Daily editorial board warned against the use of social media to access accurate information on an emergency: “Accessing inaccurate information about a potential threat through social media presents significant risks to students.” Facts on social media cannot always be trusted, which is why the University posts official institutional alerts, announcements, and updates on its emergency website.
The editorial also suggested the University could include emergency preparedness training in the health and safety modules that new students must complete. We are excited about the possibility of adding this approach to our suite of emergency education efforts and are determining how best to include emergency training in the modules.
Meanwhile, the University offers many resources for students interested in learning more about preparedness, but we are most successful when students work with us to craft the best ways to deliver this information. Because students often prefer to hear safety messages from their peers rather than administrators, my office actively supports student-led safety organizations. The current group, ‘Hoos Ready,’ needs new leadership to carry it into the next academic year. I hope that students who read this editorial might be inspired to support their classmates by joining ‘Hoos Ready.’
Safety is a top priority at the University. We work hard to get this message out, looking for new ways to break through the information that competes for students’ attention every day. My door is always open to consider ideas for improvement, and my staff is available to provide training for any group on request. Thanks again, The Cavalier Daily, for encouraging the safety of our students.
Sincerely,
Marge Sidebottom, Director
Office of Safety and Emergency Preparedness
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