IFC, DPS to review safety policies
In response to the three stabbings outside of the Alpha Tau Omega house Sunday morning, Department of Public Safety officers will work with the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils to review safety procedures and policies for social events, said DPS Chief Tony Callisto and Eddie Banks-Crosson, director of fraternity and sorority affairs.
‘We’re working together closely to look at the policy for social events to determine if there needs to be a change in that, to determine if there needs to be an increased level of security for these events and more attention paid to the entrances of these events,’ Callisto said.
Banks-Crosson stressed that ATO did not violate any part of the existing safety policy. The fraternity will not be disciplined in any way, he said.
Three ATO members were stabbed at the front door when they would not let four men enter, police said. All three victims have been released from University Hospital, nursing staff said.
Police apprehended a suspect at the scene, Callisto said.
The men were not on the guest list that the fraternity registered with Banks-Crosson’s office, and ATO followed policy by not letting the men in, Banks-Crosson said.
ATO had security at the side door where people entered the house for the party, said Nick Condit, one of the victims. But the group came to the front of the house where there was no security.
DPS immediately increased patrols throughout campus after the incident, Callisto said. DPS officers will be going to each IFC fraternity and Panhellenic sorority this week to discuss current safety procedures and what should be done in the case of an emergency, Callisto said.
‘It is an awful situation but it is very unusual,’ Callisto said. ‘And certainly we’re going to look at this and try things to minimize the likelihood of this happening again.’
Callisto and Banks-Crosson declined to comment on when the revisions will be complete.
Students will be updated with any changes to safety procedures as the process continues, Banks-Crosson said.
Published on September 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm
