Special Message
from President Gordon

 

To members of the CSUF Community:

We are all shocked and saddened at the tragic events that unfolded this week at Virginia Tech, and reminded of the colleagues and students lost in the senseless tragedy that occurred on our own campus more than 30 years ago.

Here at Cal State Fullerton, we place tremendous importance on emergency preparedness and response. The university's emergency and business continuity planning efforts provide administrators with multiple channels to communicate quickly with the university community in an emergency situation.

• Public address systems are located both outside and inside buildings throughout the entire campus. Supplemented by loudspeakers on University Police vehicles, they provide the ability to blanket the campus with emergency information.
• We have invested in electronic calling systems that can “blast” emergency messages simultaneously to the office, cell and home telephone numbers of all faculty and staff. This is in addition to a similar system we use for contacting students.
• Our campus network provides the capacity to "blast" simultaneous e-mail messages to all members of the university community.
• University Police is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by sworn police officers who have received advanced training for active shooter situations. In addition, agreements are in place with local police agencies to provide assistance as needed.
• People can contact University Police by dialing 911 from any campus phone or utilizing the "Code Blue" phones located throughout the campus. The university is developing a system so that individuals using their cell phones while on campus who dial 911 will be connected directly to University Police.
• In the event of a campus emergency, the Campus Operation and Emergency Closure Information Line (657-278-4444) is updated with the latest information.
• CSUF's Emergency Preparedness Website includes comprehensive information for CSUF faculty, staff and students on campus emergency preparedness policies and procedures. It can be reached at www.fullerton.edu/emergencypreparedness. Quentin Frazier, our Emergency Management Coordinator, may be contacted for additional information at 657-278-3572 or qfrazier@fullerton.edu.

This fall, University Police will conduct a "shelter/secure in place" drill to test its response plan and all of the communication systems noted above. This drill will be in addition to other previously scheduled drills that regularly measure the university’s ability to evacuate campus buildings speedily should the need arise.

Meanwhile, students who wish to speak with a counselor to understand and cope with their reactions may visit Counseling and Psychological Services, located in the SHCC East Building (next to the Health Center) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Crisis counseling and local referral resource information is available. Students may call the center at 657-278-3040.

Cal State Fullerton is committed to providing its faculty, staff, administrators, students and visitors an accessible, attractive and safe campus in which to learn, study and work. Acts of violence and threats of violence endanger the well-being of members of the university community and the open dialogue and free exchange of ideas intrinsic to higher education. We will not tolerate acts or threats of violence against members of this community, and are committed to taking all steps necessary to remain vigilant and to keep our campus safe. More information about university policy regarding violence in the workplace can be found out at: http://www.fullerton.edu/policies/presdir/dir8.htm.

Our deepest sympathies rest with the students, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech. Please keep them in your thoughts this week.

Milton A. Gordon
President

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