SPORTS
PHOTO
Lonestar showdown
Junior Foods store prepares for closure PAGE A6
PAGE B8
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 • WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY • WKUHERALD.COM • VOLUME 89 NO. 29
FIGHT R
FLIGHT WKUPD explains safety protocols in case of gunman FIGURE OUT Trust your “gut feeling,” make a decision, and act quickly.
HIDE OUT If you cannot make it out of the building safely, take shelter in the nearest classroom or office. Lock and barricade the door and turn off all lights.
COMPLY WITH INSTRUCTIONS
GET OUT
Make it out of the building or away from the threat and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
Once the police arrive, obey all commands.
Taken from WKU Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP)
BY CASEY DOWNEY LIFE@WKUHERALD.COM
During an incident involving a suspected gunmen on the WKU campus on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, Sgt. Shawn Helbig of the Bowling Green Police Deparment subdues a female student after she refused to cooperate. Earlier that morning, police were notified that there were armed students on campus. The day's events turned out to be a false alarm.
A
mid debates about gun control, stories concerning mass shootings are no longer a rarity on American news stations. According to Global Research News, school shootings have occurred in America since its founding, but the number of random, public acts of violence has been on the rise since the 1960s. Since 2010, there have been 14 mass shootings. In January of this year alone, there have already been 11 school shootings, which have taken the lives of two individuals and injured 11 others. Last week alone, five college and high school campuses were jilted with school shootings, lockdowns and threats of a gunman. Because of such incidents, the WKU Police Department has created a Special Response Team (SRT) to train officers for situaSEE SAFETY PAGE A3
CRIME
WINTER CRIME INCREASES OVER WINTER BREAK PAGE A3
SUNDANCE
STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH FILMS AND FILMMAKERS PAGE B1
BRYAN ANSELM/ HERALD
FOOTBALL
BROHM COMPLETES COACHING STAFF PAGE B6
Grise Elevator back up and operational BY TREY CRUMBIE NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
Students have regained access to the elevator in Grise Hall — a shortcut frequently used to climb the hill — after a semester of inaccessibility. The elevator returned to operational status after a hydraulic assembly leak prompted campus officials to shut it down for maintenance. Michelle Trawick, associate dean for faculty and administration, said while the elevator was down, some classrooms and faculty offices were moved. Now that the elevator is operational again, those classes and offices have moved back to their original locations. “It's a huge improvement,” Trawick said.“There was major turmoil during all the last minute switching last semester so this is great.” Matt Davis, coordinator of student disability services, said he believes that the repaired elevator will take some pressure off of students. “I'm so glad that it was able to be up and running before the semesSEE ELEVATOR PAGE A2
IT policies await final revisions BY SHELBY ROGERS NEWS@WKUHERALD.COM
A “controversial” Information Technology policy that sparked debate in late November of last semester is headed toward final revisions. The measure, Policy 5.5020, stated “university officials and upper management, under the direction of the University General Counsel, can access, seize and/or commandeer any and all physical or electronic resources as deemed necessary to address a given situation.” Bob Owen, vice president of the Information Technology department, said faculty and students suggested changes in two policies, including the acceptable usage policy. “The first suggestion was to insert language that said that any actions that we took to enforce policies would be in accordance with all applicable state regulations, laws, rulSEE POLICY PAGE A2
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