How college campus security changed to prepare for violent attacks

AILSA CHANG, GUEST:

I’m shocked but not surprised. These are the words of Brown University student Zoe Weissman. In a story in the online magazine The Cut, she says she has now lived through two mass shootings on school campuses. The first in Parkland, Florida in 2018 when she heard gunshots and screams at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which was right next door to her high school. On Saturday, Weissman was in her dorm at Brown University and it happened again, making her one of at least two female students at Brown who have now survived two shootings at the school. Elsewhere on the program, we’ll remember the victims of the Brown University shooting, but I’d now like to turn to Rob Kilfoyle to talk about evolving security standards on college campuses. He is the president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Welcome.

ROB KILFOYLE: Thank you very much, Ailsa.

CHANG: So there have been so many campus shootings in recent decades, right? Just like Virginia Tech was almost 20 years ago. And can you explain to us how you would characterize the evolution of campus security since then? I believe so?

KILFOYLE: Yes, indeed. I would say that probably some of the more substantial changes that have occurred since, say, Virginia Tech or even Columbine, primarily the methods of police response have changed. You know, it used to be that the police would wait for the SWAT team or the tactical team to show up before entering the school. And after the Columbine attack, that methodology changed. Now the first officers are on the scene, even though they’re alone, and, you know, they’re trying to neutralize the threat. Well, that’s probably one of the important things. But in terms of the campus environment, there’s been a shift toward using security technology on campus, so things like, you know, surveillance cameras, electronic access controls, emergency phones.

CHANG: I want to talk about different parts of what you just covered there – mainly surveillance and security cameras. You see, the videos released by law enforcement so far haven’t really provided a clear look at the suspect in the Brown University shooting. So do you feel that campuses are adequately equipped to document these kinds of events when they occur so that law enforcement can respond appropriately?

KILFOYLE: I feel like it’s getting better. You know, there – many campuses, especially those with older buildings, are more difficult to equip with cameras. And as technology improves with things like wireless technology and things like that, it’s becoming more prevalent now.

CHANG: But how do you balance that with privacy concerns? Because I can…

KILFOYLE: Yes.

CHANG: …Imagine that students don’t want to attend schools where they’re being watched 24/7 by thousands and thousands of cameras.

KILFOYLE: Exactly. And probably the most challenging thing we have to deal with in campus public safety is finding the balance between being too oppressive and striking a balance with enough safety. And so the typical thought process with the cameras is that they’re not located in any private areas, right? – so things like washrooms and dressing rooms and sleeping rooms. However, they are usually located in common areas such as cafeterias, libraries, and cafeterias. You don’t often find them in classrooms, mainly because of privacy and also academic freedom.

CHANG: Exactly.

KILFOYLE: Faculty would not agree to security cameras in…

CHANG: And the students…

KILFOYLE: And the students. Yeah.

CHANG: …Who wants to communicate openly and…

KILFOYLE: Yes. It is…

CHANG: …Share their ideas.

KILFOYLE: Exactly. Exactly. So it’s – you know, you have to find a balance, for sure.

CHANG: What about the other balance, the balance between openness and security? Because college campuses aren’t gated communities, right? These are the places where we…

KILFOYLE: Right.

CHANG: …We like to invite the world in. Students and teachers keep coming and going. And Brown University is known for being open to the community that surrounds it. How to find the right balance between this openness and security?

KILFOYLE: It’s a difficult metric to manage because generally, you know, campuses are open environments. We want people to come. We want to share ideas and dialogue and these things. And it’s – it’s a hard thing.

CHANGE: Rob Kilfoyle is president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Thank you very much.

KILFOYLE: You’re welcome. Thank you.

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