26 February 2008

In the aftermath of the campus lockdown on Tuesday, Feb. 26,
The Iron Blade wants to offer this forum for any member or friend of the college community who would like to post comments or thoughts about this experience.
If there's something you'd like to share, please send your comments to Dr. Lana Whited, the newspaper's advisor, at lwhited@ferrum.edu for publication here.

read responses to the events of Feb. 26

Breaking News

Spring break to begin early; classes to resume March 10

At 8:28 p.m., Dr. Christine H. Stinson, the college's chief information officer, sent the following message to the campus community.

Thank you to Ferrum College students, faculty and staff for your cooperation today. Law enforcement officials and public safety officers have lifted the lockdown. We are grateful for the safety of our entire community. The campus remains secure and law enforcement agencies will continue to maintain a presence on campus.

Due to these unprecedented events, Ferrum College will be starting Spring Break early with no classes scheduled for the rest of the week. Students may start leaving tonight. Please communicate with your families about your departure time. Brunch will be served for students still on campus at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday February 27th. We expect all students to be off campus by 12:00 noon, Wednesday February 27th. If you have travel issues that would prevent you from leaving at this time, please contact Jason Jones at jajones@ferrum.edu. Student athletes will get more information from their coaches.

You may return to campus after 1:00 p.m. Sunday, March 9th, 2008. Classes will resume on Monday, March 10th, 2008. For more details about class and exam schedules please check the Web site tomorrow. For those students remaining on campus this evening, authorities ask that you stay in your room and have no off-campus visitors. Parents who are here to pick up your student are welcome to do so. All other guests are asked to leave campus.

Staff members should report to campus on regular schedule Wednesday, February 27th, 2008.

If you have any additional information regarding this incident please contact Franklin County Investigators Jay Mason and Justin Sigmon at (540) 483-3000.

Students who have an emergency should call 911 or (540) 365-4444.

Students who may need counseling support this evening should call (540) 365-4444.

Family members needing additional information may continue to call the college until 10:00 p.m. tonight or between 8:30 to 4:30 tomorrow at (540) 365-4275.

We are grateful for everyone’s cooperation and wish you safe travel home.

 

Campus Locked Down After E2Campus Security Alert

8 p.m.

Katherine Porter
Photography Editor

Students awoke to the sound of sirens and cell phone’s going off this morning after a young, Caucasian, male was spotted with a handgun located on him. 

E2campus, a mass notification system that can alert students of important information via text message, sent out its first text message to individuals signed up for the service at 7:54 a.m. saying, “Possible shooter on campus. Stay indoors. More details to come.” 

“I woke up to a loud siren.  Then I looked out my window and saw a bunch of cops with large guns.  There were cops everywhere; on top of buildings, on the sidewalk, just everywhere.  When I found out what was happening all I could think of was Virginia Tech, I couldn’t believe this was happening here,” stated Orlando Romero, a junior majoring in Political Science at the college. 

 According to Sherriff Ewell Hunt, at 7:29 a.m. the 911 center in Rocky Mount, VA received a call from the Ferrum College Police Department stating that someone suspicious was seen at Bassett Hall, the largest dormitory on campus. Hunt stated that all students were relocated to a central location and are safe. 

A housekeeper saw the suspect enter Bassett Hall this morning with a handgun located on him.  "Basically, he told the housekeeper not to say anything about it and he continued on," Hunt said.

Hunt explained that command posts were setup at and near Bassett Hall, and all agents reported to those posts to make sure that all individuals are, and stay safe.  At this time, no threats have been made towards anyone and no incidents have occurred.

Crystal Akers, a senior at the college said, “After I got the text from E2Campus I stayed in my dorm with my roommates.  It’s just so hard to imagine something like this happening to our school.”

The state emergency management center and the local hospital systems have been notified and are on standby. 

 Bradley Goode, a freshman who is a resident of Bassett Hall, explained that she is glad she signed up for the E2Campus service.  “Without it I would not have known what was going on.  When my roommate and I heard there was a possible shooter in our dorm, we locked our door and sat on the floor.  We were both really scared, but impressed with the way that Ferrum has handled the situation.  No one has been hurt.” 

 Dr. Jennifer Braaten, President of the College, explained that “We're being hypervigilant.”

She has also expressed that the primary concern of the college right now is to keep students, faculty, and staff safe and updated on the situation.

According to Hunt, the campus currently has some 300 law enforcement personnel on campus from about 20 local, state and federal agencies. 

 All classes for Tuesday have been cancelled including off campus programs.  Athletic events have been postponed and the campus remains in lock down until further notice. 

 

Campus on lockdown today; students urged to stay put as law enforcement authorities follow "protocol"

1:17 p.m.

Many students woke up to find the campus surrounded by law enforcement authorities this morning, after a housekeeper in Bassett Hall reportedly encountered a man with a handgun around 7:30 a.m. According to Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt, the man asked the housekeeper not to say anything. The housekeeper immediately called 911, Hunt said.

The man was described as white, wearing a green shirt or jacket and jeans.

At 12:38 p.m., the college issued this text message via the e2campus alert system: "All students safe. No shots fired. Campus lockdown still in effect while investigation continues."

At a press conference held around 11 a.m. from the Ferrum Fire Department, President Jennifer Braaten praised the quick response of law enforcement authorities and the reaction of Ferrum College students.

Law enforcement responded "in an extremely timely fashion," Braaten said. Braaten said the security operation currently underway is being supervised by Hunt, with the assistance of the Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and personnel from law enforcement agencies in adjoining counties.

Classes are cancelled for the remainder of the day, as law enforcement authorities planned to comb the campus, identifying students, faculty, and staff.

Because of its proximity to the college campus, Ferrum Elementary School was also placed on lockdown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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