The events that unfolded last Monday at Virginia Tech are a reminder that the United States is not immune to violent acts against our innocent populace.
There is no doubt that we must each make a conscious effort to prepare for the worst - both mentally and physically.
No, Americans shouldn't live in constant fear, but we should think about how we would react if confronted or threatened with violence.
Say, for instance, that you are in the middle of a world civilizations class and hear a resonating explosion coming from a source not too far away. While you hear the blast, you do not know the specifics of the situation - the noise could have been anything from a burst water pipe to a pipe bomb. How would you respond?
Would you simply go about your daily activities as if nothing happened? Would you ditch your student peers and head off campus? Would you wait around to see what happened, and perhaps wait for directives from an authority figure?
What actions would campus officials take in handling the situation?
As it stands now, the University Police have a hard enough time directing traffic out of the university's parking lots after a populated event on campus, such as when Alumni Arena is packed from end to end with persons attending a popular UB Speaker Series event.
How then, in a moments notice, would they handle getting thousands of students, faculty and staff through the labyrinth of campus roadways and out onto Western New York thoroughfares? In the event of a mass exodus, what are plans in place to allow for emergency vehicles to access the scene of an incident?
According to an official statement from President John B. Simpson, security features are in place to prevent emergency situations, and should one occur, UB is well equipped to handle whatever is thrown their way.
And what's the first line of defense the president cited in a release to the public last week? Limited swipe card access to residence halls and apartments.
This so-called safety feature is a joke at best. Even in the wee hours of the morning, a stranger waiting by any door leading into the Ellicott Complex, for example, will surely be let in by a resident - whether you look like a student or not.
And if not, a single pane of glass is all that comes between a secure corridor and an outsider; even less-than-sober residents who've forgotten their UB cards have figured out how to smash through windows.
The revelation that our own security methods may not be as foolproof as some would like to believe is something that needs to be addressed.
Unfortunately, it took a tragedy for light to be shed on this topic - now analysis needs to continue so UB can avoid suffering a similar scenario. It's not a matter of fear mongering, but it is necessary for UB administrators to better our safety measures. Through continued education on the topic and addressing these types of concerns safety can be increased and public concern can be quelled.
While some dangerous situations cannot be avoided, we must all do our part to prevent malicious acts - most of which are mere common sense.
Vote Bill Clinton for First Man
Hillary's bolstering her husband instead of herself
Personal misconduct aside, there are still many Americans who applaud the tenure of President Bill Clinton. From his handling of the debt to his policies of foreign relations, he was popular in his time.
His wife, New York Senator and presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, agrees. And she has vowed - if elected - to "put him to work."
On Saturday, Sen. Clinton told a gym full of spectators in Marshalltown, Iowa that she "can't think of a better cheerleader for America" than her husband Bill.
What a great idea, right?
Sure, except we're not voting to re-elect the former president.
Rather than just present her own platform and her own leadership skills (which opponents are calling into question), the senator seems perfectly comfortable resting on the laurels of her twice-elected husband. But what Hillary is forgetting is that at the end of the day, she's the one people need to make a decision on: it's her name on the ballot, not his.
Before seriously considering Hillary Clinton for president, voters deserve more than a firm policy to fall back on Bill - after all, it's not just a race for First Man.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
