University Business - September 2007 - (Page 12)

EDITOR’S NOTE Readers Respond A NUMBER OF READERS COMMENTED ON last month’s editorial about a Nevada proposal to arm faculty in the hopes of avoiding campus shootings. Leonard Pellman of Indiana Wesleyan University—who stressed that his views are his and not his employer’s—had a blunt response to the proposal. “It can’t hurt,” he wrote. “The more levels at which people and their institutions are equipped to deal with aggression and violence the better.” Pellman explains that, as an exchange student in Japan, he saw Japanese school children being trained in the martial arts as a mandatory part of the physical education curricu- the reality is that this is just a gesture. Very few, if any, will lum of the time. “As a result, every Japanese student receives a agree to the training, commitment and cost it would take to solid foundation in self-defense and combative tactics … and allow them to help on a campus as a reserve or constable.” school violence has been minimal. Another reader, who didn’t want his name used, was more “There are deranged people in every culture and society,” succinct in his feelings on the Nevada plan. “I was shot while he writes. “People who are equipped to stand against violence attending classes at the University of Houston,” he wrote. “An reap less violence.” entire room of armed classmates would Howard Cook, chief of the Columbia not have stopped the bad guy from shootCollege Police Department, and president ‘People who are ing me and one other. We lived.” of the South Carolina Campus Law Enforcement Association, could see both sides equipped to stand MARK YOUR CALENDARS of the Nevada plan. “My ﬁrst thought is “New Paths to Advancement,” a Univerthat more law enforcement is always bet- against violence sity Business Leadership Seminar, takes ter,” he writes. “We utilize state constables, place in Worcester, Mass., on Tuesday, like reserves, at our college to help in sport- reap less violence.’ Oct. 9, and Tarrytown, N.Y., on Oct. 10. ing events as well as move-in and homeThis full-day event will explore proven coming events.” strategies for fundraising and campaign Faculty and staﬀ would not be the ﬁrst place he would management, and show how increasing student retention seek recruits for patrol oﬃcer positions, he writes. “However, rates can improve your ﬁnancial health. if they were willing to go through the rigorous training that Panelists are Dan Mansoor, former development oﬃcer at it takes to become one, I feel that the dedication would be Cornell University and founder of the GoodWorks Group, a proven for the assignment.” consulting ﬁrm that helps IHEs develop advancement strateCook also had doubts that the plan could be adopted else- gies; Adrian Schiess, director for student success and retention where. “In our state, [faculty] would have required monthly at Xavier University (Ohio) and a recipient of the Noel/Levitz hours of service that would have to be put in to allow them Center for Student Retention Excellence Award; and Larry to keep their commissions, and this could be very taxing on Lauer, vice chancellor for marketing and communication at already overworked employees. Our cost of liability and work- Texas Christian University and author of Advancing Higher ers compensation insurance would go up. Depending on the Education in Uncertain Times. employee’s position at the college, there could be power strugSign up at www.universitybusiness.com/seminars. gle issues with the on-duty supervisors.” In the end, Cook had a more practical assessment of the plan. “I can see where a school or state could use this to say they are doing something about a possible active shooter, but Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universitybusiness.com. 12 | September 2007 universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com/seminars http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - September 2007

University Business - September 2007
Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
People Watach
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Human Resources
Money Matters
Financial Aid
Community Colleges
Una Fuerza to Reckon With
The Right Stuff
Making an Impact
Going VoIP
Training Your Staff to Protect SIS Data
Summer Conference Report
Business Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
End Note

University Business - September 2007