Page 38 - AUCSO Newsletter - Winter 2023

9 Ways to Improve Safety

on an Open Campus

Protecting open campuses can be
challenging but there are solutions
and technologies available to help
improve safety and security.

Joseph Pangaro is a retired police
lieutenant from Ocean Township, N.J.
and the former director of school safety
and security for a large school district
in New Jersey. He is a Certified Public
Manager (CPM) and the owner and
CEO of True Security Design.

The recent tragedy at Michigan State University where a deranged killer simply walked onto
campus and into several school buildings and attacked innocent people is an example of the danger
of the “open campus.”

This type of campus is popular at many
universities, private schools, and some public
schools. It offers the students and staff a feeling
of freedom that lends itself to learning and
personal expression. It also makes a statement
that says, “This is a safe place.”

The question that must be asked though is this:
Is an open campus really safe?

I have conducted threat assessments for many
schools, both public and private, and I have
marveled at this open campus concept in this
day and age — a time when active
shooter/active killer attacks are on the rise
across the nation. Attacks increased from 21 in 2019 to 61 in 2022.

The open campus concept certainly implies the campus is not a dangerous place, but as we just saw
in Michigan, it really can be. Every school and university must take security very seriously today,
and that includes ending the open campus concept and providing students, staff, and visitors with
as much security as possible.

Many schools are enclosed campuses, meaning the property encompasses all the schools’ buildings
and facilities. This kind of campus is easier to secure as it is self-contained and not spread out within
the surrounding community. Other schools are part of a larger community, and their buildings are
interspersed among other township or city property, making it harder to secure by its very nature.

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