Virginia Tech Shooting Survivor to Speak at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 29, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Student Government Association (UKSGA), in conjunction with the University of Kentucky Police Department (UKPD) is pleased to announce that Kristina Anderson will be speaking to campus 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 30, in the William T. Young Library Athletics Auditorium. The event is titled “Safety is Personal: Lessons Learned as a Survivor of the Virginia Tech Tragedy” and is free and open to the public.
"With the increase in active shooter incidents that have plagued our country, it is of the utmost importance to be informed on the necessary steps to take if such a tragedy were to occur on our campus," said Drew Henderson, UKSGA’s director of campus safety. "It is a fact that the large majority of active shooter scenarios are over before the police arrive on the scene. We, as students, must plan for an active shooter situation now, not when the incident is unfolding."
Anderson, a survivor of the Virginia Tech tragedy in April 2007, has since dedicated herself to the important issues of campus safety and emergency planning. She is the chief evangelist for the LiveSafe smartphone app and the founder of a nonprofit organization for safer schools. Anderson is a frequent speaker and resource for violence prevention experts and survivors. She believes in the positive impact that increased communication and knowledge provide and leads LiveSafe’s efforts to share the revolutionary nature of the LiveSafe solution with the world.
After Anderson’s lecture, UKPD will provide additional information on specific active shooter training for our campus and promote a new video contest for the LiveSafe smartphone app. UKSGA is offering $500 to the student organization with the highest percentage of members in attendance. Attendees will have the opportunity to win an Apple Watch.
“We hope that hearing Kristina Anderson’s powerful story will encourage students to take a more proactive role in their safety on campus and utilize the LiveSafe app when they need our assistance,” UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said.
The University of Kentucky became the first higher education institution in Kentucky to adopt the LiveSafe smartphone app. Available to UK students, LiveSafe is designed to empower communities to stay safe by communicating with law enforcement in the event of virtually any situation where the user feels at risk or wishes to share information. The app is available to UK students, faculty and staff to download for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The mission of the UKSGA is to represent all undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled at the university. UKSGA exists to increase student influence over academic policy, provide necessary student services, protect and expand student substantive and procedural rights and to better represent the student body in relations with the faculty, administration, Board of Trustees and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The mission of UKPD is to promote a safe and secure campus environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors at the University by providing quality police services ethically, fairly and equally in partnership with the members of the community.
For questions or concerns regarding this event, contact Weston Loyd at publicrelations@uksga.org.
UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue
MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett or Rebecca Stratton, katy.bennett@uky.edu or rebecca.stratton@uky.edu, 859-257-1909/859-323-2395