"The security of our schools is our most important job."

Gov. Jim Doyle

Gov. Jim Doyle officially unveiled his new statewide task force to deal with campus safety during a Wednesday visit to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Governor's Task Force on Campus Safety is Doyle's plan for ensuring safety on the campuses of Wisconsin's private and public colleges. He described his plan as a combination of physical campus security and addressing mental health issues on college campuses.

Doyle told the crowd of students and media at Spaights Plaza that students, staff, police and politicians should take a good, hard look at our schools.

"The security of our schools is our most important job," Doyle said.

The governor said that his task force will use students, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, faculty and student housing administrators to ensure the safety and preparedness of college campuses across Wisconsin.

While Doyle did not say that the task force would be permanent, he did not give any timetable for how long it would last. He did say that all options would be looked at in regards to campus safety and that students and administrators alike should remain vigilant. He stressed that treating students who may be at risk for mental illness should be a top priority for Wisconsin schools.

The plan's outline includes communicating with students and law enforcement during any emergencies, coordinating between campus officials and local law enforcement and assessing students who could be vulnerable to mental health problems.

Doyle told the crowd that his new task force was designed to focus on the quality of campus life in Wisconsin“s higher learning institutions.

"When Wisconsin students go off to college, I don't want them or their parents worrying whether their campus is unprepared for an emergency," Doyle said.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard, who will co-chair the task force alongside River Falls Police Chief Roger Leque, was also on hand to speak. Shepard said that while he was saddened when he first heard the news from Virginia Tech last month, he also saw an opportunity.

"As a lifelong educator, I can't help but point out that this is a teachable moment," he said.

The task force is set to make its first recommendations on campus safety before the start of the next academic year.

> Comments