Southeast planned for safety

To the editor:The tragedy at Virginia Tech touched the entire nation. Campus officials continue to walk the fine line between open access and safety and security. It is worth noting that Southeast Missouri State University president Ken Dobbins had the foresight about 10 years ago when he was vice president for administration and finance to begin implementing a comprehensive campus safety and security plan that included campus escorts, strategically placed video cameras, a siren warning system, a full communication plan and regularly scheduled tabletop exercises. One cannot guarantee 100 percent safety, but the leadership of President Dobbins, along with public safety director Doug Richards and his staff, has established Southeast as one of the safest campuses in the country. The heart of the nation goes out to the Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff and families impacted by the recent events.

JIM BIUNDO, Surprise, Ariz.