ECU to host regional Campus Safety Symposium

Attorney General Roy Cooper will deliver the keynote address for East Carolina University’s second annual Campus Safety Symposium Jan. 31 through Feb. 1.

Designed to attract school administrators from community colleges and universities from across the region, the symposium will address the legal and safety challenges academic institutions face today, crisis communications, and strategies for safer campuses, according to Peter Romary.

“Safety is obviously a top priority for all educational institutions. Through this symposium we plan to provide attendees with knowledge and skills that are best in practice at identifying threats, preventing violent crimes and communicating and responding effectively if events occur.”

Last year, the event drew more than 200 participants from across the state. Registration is now underway. The two-day conference will be held at the Greenville Hilton, and costs $100 for participants.

Cooper, North Carolina’s attorney general, will be among those presenting at the symposium, Romary said.

“We are fortunate this year to have some of the top experts in the nation presenting at the symposium and are excited to be able to provide attendees with training in threat assessment by the United States Secret Service,” he said. “We are also greatly honored that Attorney General Roy Cooper, who has worked so hard to ensure safe campuses throughout North Carolina, will be our keynote speaker.”

Other speakers include: Kevin Foust from the Federal Bureau of Intelligence; Euqene Zdziarski, assistant vice president and dean of Students at the University of Florida; David Robey, Secret Service Threat Assessment Team; Dave Rainer, associate vice chancellor for ECU’s Environmental Health and Public Safety at N.C. State University; and Mark Namee, provost of Virginia Tech and Scott Bullard, director of emergency services for the N.C. Community College System.

Also: Chancellors Steve Ballard from ECU and Willie Gilchrist at Elizabeth City State University; Lynn Roeder, ECU’s dean of students and Glen Gilbert, ECU’s dean of Health and Human Performance.

More details and registration information can be found at: http://www.ecu.edu/universityunions/safetysymposium/