Eighty pages compiled of crime statistics and preventative plans may seem a little daunting for students to read in their spare time, but taking a look at the university’s annual security and fire safety report might help students acquire basic knowledge of the dangers of campus and how to react in bad situations.

David Collins, vice president of finance and administration, said the report — despite its length — has good intentions.

“Overall we are a very safe campus but digging that out of all that can be difficult,” Collins said. “It’s got a good purpose. … It’s a way to remind students to not put yourselves into bad situations.”

The safety report is a requirement of the federal government under the Jeanne Clery Act, a law passed in 1990 that requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to share information about crime on campus.

The importance of safety on college campuses was drawn into sharp relief Thursday when a student shot and killed nine people at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College is just one tragic example of the danger that could present itself at any university.

The campus safety report shows preventative measures against dangers that are as drastic as such, and just about every other dangerous possibility from hate crimes to open flames on campus.

Students will have more opportunities to be updated about the current safety of campus through items such as Gold Alert, Outdoor Warning Sirens, email and text message, social media, fire alarm systems, ETSU alarm systems, ETSU alert website, Alertus Pop-up Page, Campus Table TV and WETS 89.5 Radio.

“It’s a constantly evolving area getting more complicated all the time,” Collins said.

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