[Phys-L] Overreacting to a safety concern - or not

[Bill Norwood <bnorwood111@gmail.com>]

Bill Norwood <bnorwood@physics.umd.edu>
4:36 PM (2 minutes ago)

to tap-l, Phys-L
Hi Dave,

Since you recently raised on Tap-L the issue about possible excess concern
about safety issues, I will just bounce the following off you.

But first, just in case this is arguably off-topic, I will have just made
all of us aware of a potential concern, but I will not post or respond to
any more about this topic here on Tap-L. Please look for any discussion on
Phys-L, cc'd here. If I had confined this discussion to Phys-L, then not
all of you would have become aware of it.

If at your university or college you had received a notice such as the one
below, about the Umpqua Community College shooting incident, what would you
do, if you were the instructor, apart from getting your cell phone
registered?

I am having trouble figuring out just how responsive I should be to this
safety notice, but let me first ask how you would respond, but beware, this
is not a comprehensive list of questions, and some of the questions may be
wrong-headed.

Would you develop a plan with your students about safest egress from the
classroom?

Would you prohibit the placement of backpacks etc in the pathways between
the lab benches and in the isles in the lab room?

If the classroom has a back door would you insure that that it stayed
unlocked and that students got instructed that they could use it?

If the classroom did not have a back door would you see to it that one got
installed?

Would you insure that none of the pathways out of the classrooms had become
narrowed by cabinets etc?

Would you make sure that all students knew how to operate the top and
bottom door bolts so that both doors of a double door could be open so that
the maximum number of students per second could exit the classroom, so that
students would less likely trample each other?

Would you go to the trouble of identifying any student(s) who had relevant
experience with guns and law enforcement and then taking advantage of that
experience?

Would you designate a student experienced in law enforcement to suggest or
direct the movements of students until police arrived?

Do you think the U of MD Police notice below is alarmist?

Many thanks for any responses on Phys-L.

Bill Norwood
U of MD at College Park




On Tue, Oct 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM, UMD Alerts <conf-1889470551@everbridge.net>
 wrote:

> Dear University of Maryland Community,
>
>
>
> The tragic incident that took place at Umpqua Community College on October
> 1st serves as a reminder that violent, heinous acts such as this can
> occur anywhere, anytime.
>
>
>
> Currently, there are no active threats toward our campus.  However, it is
> extremely important to remember that, *If You See Something, Say
> Something.*The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) trains
> routinely with area Police Departments for such tragic events.  In
> addition, UMD students, faculty and staff must also be prepared in the
> event of an active shooter incident.
>
>
>
> *We encourage all UMD students, faculty, and staff to register their cell
> phone atwww.alert.umd.edu <http://www.alert.umd.edu/> to receive emergency
> text messages from UMPD.*
>
>
>
> If you find yourself in the middle of an active shooter event, your
> survival may depend on whether or not you have a plan.  The plan doesn't
> have to be complicated.  There are three things you can do that make a
> difference: *RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.*
>
>
>
> For more information on Run, Hide, Fight and what to expect from
> responding police officers, visit
> http://www.umpd.umd.edu/services/activeshooter.cfm.
>
> Chief David B. Mitchell
>
>
> University of Maryland Police Department



On Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 10:35 AM, David Maiullo<maiullo@physics.rutgers.edu>
 wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>
> Look, I really value your opinion on stuff and I note how fervently you
> want us all to be safe and sound, but sometimes you are a bit silly.
>
> You really think we need to tell people they shouldn't be engaged in these
> activities?  Really????
>
> I don't know, Bill, sometimes I think you missed your calling.  You
> should've been campus fire safety officer chief inspector or something like
> that....they are always coming in my office explaining how I should avoid
> being stupid, too.  And it's rather annoying they think we are all that
> stupid.
>
> Stay safe,
> Dave/RU