Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO Ronald Paprocki issued a memo to the UR community regarding the current “High Risk” alert.
In the Feb. 12 memo, he writes, “The University stays abreast of such government reports, and, on a routine basis, makes sure that its emergency plans across the divisions are current and ready to implement. We also constantly review our general security procedures to make sure that they fully meet the demands for campus safety.”
“As has been the case since Sept. 11, 2001, we ask the University community’s continuing cooperation in staying alert to any suspicious activity,” Paprocki’s memo said. “Your cooperation is appreciated.”Director of UR Security Walter Mauldin has been working to increase preparedness on campus. “It’s a major operational effort,” he said. “It’s the kind of stuff that happens behind the scenes. We are making extra-sure that things are working.”
Paprocki’s memo also referred the community to visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Web site — http://www.fema.org — and UR’s emergency information page at http://www.rochester.edu/working/emergency/.
According to “Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness” — a publication of FEMA –a high condition alert recommends that people “review preparedness measures for potential terrorist actions including chemical, biological and radiological attacks.” In addition the report recommends that the public avoids “high profile or symbolic locations” and exercises caution when traveling.
“We’re doing what we’ve always done,”Assistant Dean and Director of the Center for Study Abroad and Interdepartmental Affairs Jacqueline Levine said. “We always send students the security update from the state department via e-mail.”
Partly due to the travel warning regarding Israel issued by the United States Department of State, UR’s summer archaelogical excavation toGalilee, which was founded 11 years ago was replaced with a summer expedition Arezzo, Italy, according to Levine.
“There’s generally been a reluctance from students to study in Israel,” she said.
With Spring Break rapidly approaching, many students have already have travel plans, in spite of the increased alert.
Freshman Amie Whigham plans on flying to Panama City Beach, Florida with an e-ticket purchased online. “I didn’t know there was an alert,” she said. “I’m not nervous.”
Students do not seem to be nervous due to the increased alert status. “Not at this point,” freshman Andrew Lynch said. “Not until it gets higher.”
“It just means we have to get up earlier to go to the airport,” sophomore Jeff White said. “I don’t think domestic travel would be a problem.”Sophomore Liz Sack agrees. “You can’t stop traveling because of it,” Sack said.
Additional reporting by Colin Brown and Taylor Yunis.Schnee can be reached at cschnee@campustimes.org.
