Comments on: UO Safety Policies or Run, Bitch, Run!!! http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2007/04/26/uo-safety-policies-or-run-bitch-run/ Free Minds, Free Markets, Free Booze Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:23:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Melissa http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2007/04/26/uo-safety-policies-or-run-bitch-run/#comment-94069 Melissa Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:27:24 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2007/04/26/uo-safety-policies-or-run-bitch-run/#comment-94069 That was a low shot at FEMA. It isn't appropriate to blame to collective agency where there is a distinct divide between bureaucracy and response teams. I know people who were there with FEMA, and they worked constantly every day for months (some are still working). The public expects a miracle 24 hour fix, when in reality the practical time line of addressing a disaster of that magnitude is on a scale of months and is held up by local failures to prepare and cooperate. Give FEMA teams a break. Additionally, FEMA bureaucracy and FEMA training are two different things. Consider that you're discussing a massive hurricane in an unprepared city and the potential for a school shooting in the same category. The FEMA response level isn't remotely comparable. A shooting wouldn't activate a DMORT or DMAT team. It would likely be handled by trained campus staff, local law enforcement and medical examiner teams. I would rather that someone on campus have FEMA training, rather than no (or DPS) training. I suggest you research all viewpoints, including those of FEMA staff units who were on the ground, instead of jumping on the pro/anti FEMA bandwagon. Moral approaches claiming inherently "good" and "bad" government agencies are always subjective and rarely informed. Separate the response teams from the Brownie and Bush games before you lash out. That was a low shot at FEMA. It isn’t appropriate to blame to collective agency where there is a distinct divide between bureaucracy and response teams. I know people who were there with FEMA, and they worked constantly every day for months (some are still working). The public expects a miracle 24 hour fix, when in reality the practical time line of addressing a disaster of that magnitude is on a scale of months and is held up by local failures to prepare and cooperate. Give FEMA teams a break.

Additionally, FEMA bureaucracy and FEMA training are two different things. Consider that you’re discussing a massive hurricane in an unprepared city and the potential for a school shooting in the same category. The FEMA response level isn’t remotely comparable. A shooting wouldn’t activate a DMORT or DMAT team. It would likely be handled by trained campus staff, local law enforcement and medical examiner teams. I would rather that someone on campus have FEMA training, rather than no (or DPS) training.

I suggest you research all viewpoints, including those of FEMA staff units who were on the ground, instead of jumping on the pro/anti FEMA bandwagon. Moral approaches claiming inherently “good” and “bad” government agencies are always subjective and rarely informed. Separate the response teams from the Brownie and Bush games before you lash out.

]]> By: Amy http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2007/04/26/uo-safety-policies-or-run-bitch-run/#comment-94051 Amy Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:12:55 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2007/04/26/uo-safety-policies-or-run-bitch-run/#comment-94051 To be fair, the reason one shouldn't call 911 from a University phone is because the call is routed through Oregon Hall and that's where EPD would show up. DPS, being on campus itself, should (in theory) be able to respond quicker. However, if you were calling from a cell phone, this wouldn't really be a problem. Does EPD even know where buildings are on campus? I really hope so. It makes sense to alert students to the dangers of poor security on campus, though. To be fair, the reason one shouldn’t call 911 from a University phone is because the call is routed through Oregon Hall and that’s where EPD would show up. DPS, being on campus itself, should (in theory) be able to respond quicker. However, if you were calling from a cell phone, this wouldn’t really be a problem. Does EPD even know where buildings are on campus? I really hope so.

It makes sense to alert students to the dangers of poor security on campus, though.

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