NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University faculty, staff and student representatives stood with President Glenda Glover Friday as she unveiled a 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan during a news conference. The plan emphasizes action, accountability and assessment. While expressing support for the plan, the group believes the campus shooting last Thursday was an isolated incident that could have happened anywhere.

Tarence Rice, a senior Electrical Engineering major, and the student representative on the university’s Campus Safety Commission, said safety has always been a major issue on campus. But like any secure environment, there are always elements trying to find ways around it.

“I feel like TSU is like any other campus,” Rice said. “There are going to be problems sometimes but as the president said, we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone is safe on campus.”

Prior to the news conference President Glover met with TSU faculty and staff to give an update on strategies that were being implanted immediately to ensure the campus is safe and secure.

“It is tragic that this happened at all,” said Dr. Michael Catanzaro, chair of the Faculty Senate. “We have joined the president to show that we care about what happened and what happens at our university. This is not just my university because I am a faculty; this is where I spend most of my time.”

“We have all come to join with the president as she presents this safety plan because this is our campus and the safety of students, faculty and staff is a major concern for all of us,” said Jessica Gabriel, chair of the Staff Senate.

The 10-point plan emphasizes a partnership with Metro Nashville Police and other law enforcement agencies, an increased police presence, enforcement of the university’s ID policy, the establishment of a TSU Police satellite office, centrally located on the campus where there is high student traffic, and a Student Safety Patrol.

“I have spent time with (Nashville) Police Chief Steve Anderson, Metro Police North Precinct Acting Commander Blair, and Mr. Mark Gwyn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to develop additional strategies that deal specifically with the incident,” President Glover said.

Below are the Tennessee State University 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan:

1. Increased visibility of the TSU police force.

We have a partnership with Metro Nashville Police, who have already joined with TSU PD in providing increased patrols on campus. We have also begun the process of hiring more TSU Police and Security Officers to fully implement the increased activity.

2. The opening of a new TSU Police satellite office in the Floyd Payne Campus Center, near the courtyard area.

This satellite office will be fully operational beginning November 1, 2015.

3. Strict enforcement of the TSU ID policy, requiring students, faculty, and staff to wear IDs at all times.

We will strictly enforce TSU’s ID policy, which requires students, faculty, and staff to wear their campus-issued ID at all times. IDs must be worn visibly and not contained in a pocket, book bag, or handbag.

Fines will be imposed for individuals not wearing IDs. (The first time there will be a warning or referral. The second time is a $25 fine, and the third time is a $50 fine).

The same policy will also apply to parking. Students and employees must show a campus-issued decal and ID to come on campus. Special IDs and parking passes will be issued to campus visitors.

4. The incorporation of a tip hotline, through our Red Flag System, that will allow individuals to report information anonymously. We also have a mobile TSU Safety App which can be downloaded to cellular phones.
5. We are offering cash awards to students as a part of our See Something Say Something

This initiative encourages students to report suspicious activity to the TSU PD.

6. The initiation of a Student Safety Patrol staffed by volunteers from male student organizations—which include fraternities, service organizations, and other related campus groups—
   to accompany individuals across campus.

The TSU Student Safety Patrol will consist of uniformed volunteers that will be strategically located across the campus for added patrol and provide assistance to students when requested. Recruitment has begun and will continue throughout the semester.

7. More frequent room inspections in campus housing.

Room checks are randomly conducted if there is reasonable cause to believe that a student is using a residence facility for purposes that are illegal, constitute a hazard, or would seriously interfere with campus discipline.

8. Enhanced surveillance on campus, including cameras and lighting will continue.
9. Increased access control on campus through proximity readers.

We began this initiative with our classrooms and expand the program to include the Floyd Payne Student Center in approximately 3 weeks. Other campus buildings will come on-line throughout the year.

10. The completion of Phase II of the fence project on TSU’s campus.

Phase I is approximately 75% complete. It is the existing fence with gates and access control from Kean Hall on 33^rd to Hale Hall on Albion.

 In Phase II – we will continue the fence to other parts of the campus. It will start from the existing chain link fence behind the Torrence Hall Engineering Building to the TSU steam plant area.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.