New measures aim to ensure students’ safety

Campus Safety has been busy this summer incorporating a major overhaul to improve campus security.

For starters, the entire division now falls under the direction of MVNU’s new Dean of Students, Aaron Quinn. Quinn is a former sergeant with the Ohio State Patrol and Safety Director at Rio Grande University.

Since assuming leadership of this department, Quinn has implemented important changes to ensure students’ safety at MVNU.

Among the changes are a new emergency alert system, an anonymous tip line, and an increased security presence around campus.

The most obvious change is how how often students will see security guards patrolling campus common areas and overseeing events and activities.

“Officers will be more visible. There will be more foot patrol added as well,” he said.

Quinn is looking into having more guard posts stationed around campus so officers aren’t as far removed from students, faculty and staff.

The University also updated its emergency communication system with a program called Nixle, which allows faculty, staff and students to sign up for email or text alerts about weather updates, building or school closures, and any security incidents occurring on campus, including armed intruders.

To sign up for text alerts, simply text MVNU to 888-777. If you prefer email, visit nixle.com and click on “resident.” Then enter MVNU’s zip code, 43050, and select the school name. Parents can sign up to receive the alerts as well.

The new Nixle system also equips the campus with an anonymous tip line.

“Our new motto is ‘See something, say something,’” Quinn said.

Any information received via the tip line will be automatically sent to the Vice President of Student Life, the Dean of Students and campus police for investigation.

With all the new security measures, Quinn isn’t planning on hiring new safety officers at this time.

“We will be realigning some of [the officers’] duties. We are going to better use our current resources,” he said.

Quinn is also working with the campus’ emergency response team to update the Emergency Response Plan, which outlines protocol for incidents like severe weather, fire, and armed intruder situations.

“We hope we never have to use it, but we want to be as prepared as possible,” Quinn said.