After the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech, universities all over America have been reflecting about their own security, and what they can do to help prevent a situation as this one from ever happening again. Chancellor Michael Collins released a statement regarding the shooting and what steps UMass Boston has taken to guarantee the safety of the students.

“I have been in contact with the university’s executive staff,” Collins said, and noted that they have discussed “any particular challenges that these events may present to the UMass Boston community.”

Virginia Tech declared that April 20 would be a day that universities all over America could show support by wearing their school colors, maroon and orange. The week of April 23 to April 27, UMass Boston had ribbons for sale and donations were made to the families of the victims. A banner was put up in the Campus Center with UMass Boston’s logo along with Virginia Tech’s logo and the phrase “Today We Are All Hokies.” The banner was signed by UMass Boston students and is being sent to Virginia Tech.

While it is never possible to ever predict such occurrences, UMass Boston has developed emergency plans to be used in a time of a crisis that “threatens the safety and health of our campus and its students, faculty, staff or neighbors,” Collins said. “The university’s emergency preparedness planning takes place in coordination with city, state and federal agencies. The university community can be assured that its administrative colleagues have extended their best efforts in the preparation and the adaptability of our plan to respond to a broad range of incidents.”

“The university would like to emphasize to all members of the UMass Boston community that the single highest priority of our daily operations and emergency response planning is the safety, security and health of the students, faculty, staff and neighbors of the university,” Collins said. He added, “the Virginia Tech community remains in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”