Diegnan: Campus security to be focus of May 10 Higher Ed. Committee meeting

DIEGNAN: CAMPUS SECURITY TO BE FOCUS
OF MAY 10 HIGHER ED COMMITTEE MEETING
Panel to Examine Safety Issues, Emergency Procedures
In Wake of Virginia Tech Shooting Rampage

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, today announced that the panel's May 10 hearing will focus exclusively on the issue of security and emergency preparedness at New Jersey's college and university campuses.

"Last month's massacre at Virginia Tech underscores the absolute necessity of preparing for major catastrophes," said Diegnan (D-Middlesex). "The Virginia Tech shooting spree was a wake-up call. No one should be lulled into thinking that a similar event could never unfold here."

Diegnan said the committee already was planning a hearing on campus safety prior to the April 16 rampage at Virginia Tech that left 33 people dead. But the Assemblyman said the recent tragedy generated heightened urgency to take on the issue.

The Assemblyman said the committee would consider legislation (A-3879) Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) introduced in January 2007 to require colleges to submit annual campus security assessments to state homeland security and higher education officials. Diegnan is a joint prime sponsor of the measure.

Diegnan said top officials from the law enforcement and homeland security community, college presidents and other administrators, faculty, and students would be invited to brief the committee on the status of security at New Jersey's college and university campuses. He said the broad review is necessary to ensure all areas of safety are carefully considered.

"We can stick our head in the sand and pretend that the tragedy at Virginia Tech was an isolated incident that happened hundreds of miles away, or we can use that experience to act decisively and constructively to safeguard our own campuses," said Diegnan.

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