The District reinforces its commitment to physical safety following mass shootings and a growing national culture of threats, harassment and violence.<\/p>\n
SAN MARCOS \u2014 Remaining steadfast regarding the health and safety of its students and employees, Palomar College will invest in a variety of safety improvements in what was announced this week as a \u201cSummer of Safety\u201d throughout the Palomar Community College District (PCCD or District).<\/p>\n
From preparedness training to new safety infrastructure, the District has begun addressing \u201cthe new public security landscape\u201d developing across the nation, with measures to be taken at the San Marcos campus and education centers in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike institutions of higher learning across the U.S., Palomar has started to fully re-populate its main campus and education centers following the COVID-19 pandemic\u2014a process that has illuminated new challenges and new realities,\u201d said Palomar\u2019s Superintendent\/President, Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing more urgently important than the safety of our students, faculty and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Rivera-Lacey spoke of her personal feelings on the topic of campus safety during a Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, June 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the Summer of Safety\u2014and it\u2019s not just about words, it\u2019s about action,\u201d said Dr. Rivera-Lacey. \u201cWe\u2019re going to make sure we\u2019re doing everything humanly possible to provide a safe environment for our folks. The buck stops with me, and it\u2019s something I take very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added a request that individuals with evidence of threats or harassment come forward to alert District administration immediately, as \u201cwe can\u2019t respond to what we don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The District demonstrated its commitment to safety throughout two and a half years of COVID-19 prevention and mitigation that kept the virus under control at Palomar. Dr. Rivera-Lacey pointed out that Palomar\u2019s COVID-19 protocols were stricter than state and local requirements \u201cbecause we were not taking any chances with the health and safety of our employees and students.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat our response to COVID-19 shows is that this District is absolutely committed to the safety of everyone who sets foot on Palomar College\u2019s campus and education centers,\u201d said Dr. Rivera-Lacey.<\/p>\n
In response to the ongoing cultural instability and its impact on the well being of its students and employees, Dr. Rivera-Lacey reinforced the institution\u2019s long standing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and accessibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not tolerate\u2014and will fully investigate\u2014unlawful threats made against our students, faculty or staff,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd we are taking every opportunity to guard our locations against the possibility of mass violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the summer, the College will invest in safety improvements such as the installation of \u201cpanic buttons\u201d in office locations across the main campus and education centers, and the addition of more security cameras in public locations.<\/p>\n
The Summer of Safety also includes numerous mandatory training opportunities for District staff on lockdowns, evacuations, first aid and emergency response.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rivera-Lacey emphasized that she considers the campaign an \u201call hands on deck\u201d effort, involving numerous departments\u2014from Campus Police to Information Systems\u2014and that she anticipates full buy-in from the campus community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis College has proven, time and again, that it is committed to safe learning and working environments. I believe that everyone who works and teaches here wants it to remain a safe place,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is our goal. This is the standard.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"