March 25, 2008

Pre-Council Steering Meeting:   Wendy Pechman, Jenny Swaim, Nancy Griggs, Valerie Morns-Riggins, Judy Woodrow, Brenda Ray, Don Sides, Lyn Long, and David Tindal. 

A Steering Meeting was held prior to the Council meeting to discuss elections.  Conversations took place regarding postponing the Steering Position election until after the elections of new representatives were held.  All in attendance approved.

Council Meeting

The guest speaker was Melvin Owens from the office of Public Safety.    He spoke that a task force formed to make a recommendation in 2007 since the Virginia Tech incident.  A company called Elsure Group was hired and in August 07 looked at the campus security.  They found our process is fragmented.  He indicated they have worked together to develop a plan for cooperative safety and security responses between:  Administration, Public Safety, Enrollment Services, Facilities, Housing, Risk Management, Faculty, Staff and Students.  What this means is the protecting of people and property with the right attitudes.

Why we need to know about this:  the campus needs to work together because there is not enough police and viable officers to be everywhere on campus.

Theft is the #1 problem on campus.  This is of personal property left unattended.

Be protective:  Go with someone; avoid dark areas, hold valuables tight, carry small amounts of cash.  If you feel you are in danger, cross the streets, keep looking back and enter a room or building all the while trying to remember the description of the individual.

If you are held up:  Don’t resist, tell immediately, and lock valuables.

How to protect your self when you are walking:  Walk with confidence, walk with a co-worker or ask for an escort.

If there is shooting:  stay calm, get in a room and block/barricade the door and call 911 leaving the line open if you cannot talk.  When the police arrive know they are there to get the shooter even if there are down people.  Their main goal is to get the shooter stopped.  Keep your hands clear and seen by the police so they can easily identify when/who the shooter is.

Street wise:  Stay alert, be confident and have a quick eye and trust your instincts.  Take various routes when you have a schedule/path you usually go.  Try not to jog or bike at night, do not use headphone sets, wear bright reflective clothing and carry an ID.  Remember on campus there is an escort service available – call 707-2004. 

Q&A:  Will AU ever go back to having their own Police Force again?  Melvin indicated there are pros and cons to owning your own Police Department.  Auburn does a good job.  They are currently 17 officers down and there is a movement to make sure AU is adequately covered.  The emergency management is a system outsourced.  They work with Melvin with preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, emergency disasters. 

Chance Corbet from AU Alert.

Melvin indicated Susan McCalister has been very busy with the AU Alert system and that she and Chance are now working with him.  They are examining the severe weather alerts.  The AU alert system can be programmed to be activated for terrorist threats (gunman/bomb threats).

It was indicated that AU has 5 outdoor sirens on campus set through the Lee County Emergency Management Agency.  There are also tone alert radios in place through out campus and AU Alert-as of November 2007.  In the future they can see campus wide pa systems and making the AU Alert systems mandatory for students.   www.auburn.edu/aualert.com

It was indicated that there is a CERT (community emergency response team) program that looks for volunteers to be trained.

Wendy then spoke of the elections indicating that the position for Steering Committee would be delayed, until all the new representatives are elected. 

Wendy announced two candidates for Chair-elect position. 

Nancy Griggs spoke first and was well received followed by Judy Woodrow – equally a strong candidate for Chair-elect position.  A vote was cast by ballots and Judy Woodrow gained the lead by one vote.

Wendy also passed out certificates for those rotating off the Staff Council.

Jenny gave a briefing on Wellness on campus and indicated talks were being held for a new facility.  As more information is revealed, it will be shared with the Council.

Meeting was adjourned.