Campus Crises

     Campus crisis are typically unforeseen events that are impossible to have a campus wide preparedness.  The aftermath of a campus crisis, whether it be weather, crime, or violence; are difficult situations to work through.  Fortunately, many campuses have prevention programs and intervention programs for coping with the aftermath of a campus crisis.
     One intervention program is NOVA.  NOVA helps by putting victims of crime and crisis in touch with people who are willing to help overcome crime and crisis. NOVA focuses on the following keys to help crisis victims cope:

• Physical health and abilities
• Emotional and mental capacities and strength
• Having family and community support
• Having spiritual connections
• A positive view of ‘self’ and life

For crime victims NOVA focuses on the following to help victims cope:

• Emotional trauma is a common element for nearly EVERY victim. Some traumas you never 'get over’ but you can learn ways to cope.
• The US system of justice is not a speedy process, from before an investigation (IF you get one) to prosecution to incarceration of a perpetrator. The Justice System is deliberately slow at nearly every level. This commonly surprises victims who expect 'swift justice.' 
• It is typical for victims to experience secondary trauma. Secondary trauma is emotional pain caused by the people and processes from whom victims seek help. This can happen because of the system's slowness, incompetencies and just the fact that you are working with humans. 
• Some people around you will not understand your struggle and frustration. This can include family and close friends. It is helpful for some victims to find others like them for support and understanding. This is why there are Crime Victim Specializations.

     Most recently in the light of the Mississippi State University and Jackson State University campus shootings, the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi issued a statement released about "Emergency Preparedness" in the UM Today, reads as follows:

     Several opportunities are available to prepare you for dealing with campus violence and events like that at Mississippi State University this week. The University Police Department regularly offers seminars, and you may sign up by emailing upd@olemiss.edu. Also, given the importance of and increased interest in Active Shooter training, we are working with UPD to schedule a larger session of this seminar for faculty and staff. This larger seminar also will cover crisis management on several fronts (severe weather, etc.). A separate program will be offered for students. These training programs are appropriate for first timers and those seeking a refresher course.
     Thank you for your interest in these programs. The information offered in these sessions can make a significant difference in your ability to respond effectively. More information about the larger seminar will be released soon.
     In the meantime, we recommend that all faculty, staff, and students review the information at the following links:

To Learn What to Do in the Event of …
http://www.olemiss.edu/emergency/todo.html

Severe Weather Recommendations
http://www.olemiss.edu/emergency/weather.html

Some of the topics covered on the "What To Do" website include: Bomb Threat Demonstration Earthquake Hazardous Material Spill Hostage Situation Smoke or Fire Suspicious Package Violence or Individual With Weapon Person with Weapon Weapons of Mass Destruction (Terrorist) Evacuation of A Disabled Person Evacuation of A Building Medical Emergency Shelter in Place Demonstration Disruptive Individual Utility Failure Lockdown In order for crises not to take as much of an impact upon a campus, preemptive and coping protocol should be put in place and followed.

MSU youtube video:
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Schools such as Portland Community College have Emergency Preparedness Programs:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pcc.edu/about/public-safety/images/emergency-prep.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.pcc.edu/about/public-safety/emergency-plan.html&usg=__XA0W6p6kqjxTNExqL3LqYnv8dgE=&h=208&w=220&sz=7&hl=en&start=3&zoom=1&tbnid=H1dSsJashqpc4M:&tbnh=101&tbnw=107&ei=8aJ0T9HrL5H2gAee74Vk&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcrisis%2Bprevention%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnsz&itbs=1

Ole Miss Crisis Preparedness Statement:
https://secure1.olemiss.edu/tools/userfiles/nwilkin-300-dbd85575-cdfa-4d20-aef2-e97d873728a6.html