Monday marked the fifth anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech, where 32 students and professors were killed by a student. While there have been tragedies and even killings on campuses since, including the recent murder of seven nursing students at Oakland’s Oikos University, Virginia Tech remains the deadliest shooting spree on a college campus in history. The tragedy at Virginia Tech captured the world’s attention and brought reform to college campuses nationwide.
Since the 2007 killings, universities nationwide have developed improved emergency alert measures to keep the campus community safe in the face of danger—or even potential danger. These alerts notify students , faculty and staff with just the click of the button and have the potential to even lock down a campus should a gunman or other danger be present. Emergency alert systems are also useful in the event of severe weather. When a devastating tornado hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama in April 2011, the school was able to send severe weather updates to students through its system.
