University defends April 16 actions
"I have nothing but admiration for Chief Flinchum and his job is not in jeopardy," Steger said.
Steger, along with University Provost Mark McNamee and Larry Hincker, university relations, said that the Virginia Tech Police did "just what they should have done" when handling the events of April 16.
Steger defended the university's actions and said that university officials and campus police did the best they could in a situation of that magnitude, but agreed that the results of the report meant that change should be implemented at Tech.
"It is painful to hear the blunt and, in some cases, critical findings. Yet, it was necessary," Steger said.
The university will be implementing three major recommendations to improve the ability to identify problems: "Refining and expanding the Care Team, a key student affairs group that identifies and responds to students at risk (among other responsibilities). Creating a Threat Assessment Team charged with examining the most complex cases of distressed students and empowering it to act quickly, when necessary. Expanding Case Management Capacity by adding case managers to the Dean of Students office and Cook Counseling Center to improve follow-up with students and to improve information flow through appropriate units about students at risk," Steger said.
Hincker and McNamee also talked about a list of measures that the university has already taken, including added security measures, locks in classrooms and 24-hour key card access to residence halls. All these additions will help to expand their resources, McNamee said.
Another point that Steger made was the need to have more information available about students who apply to colleges. Applications don't include information about mental health or past records of mental health.
"I think we're moving into a new era," McNamee said. "Safety has clearly risen to a much higher profile in terms of predicting student behavior."
The report mentioned that better action should be taken for students at risk.
"Whether Cho should have ever been in a large college — or any college — is a legitimate question," Steger said. "When people did reach out and try to help, he rebuffed the system. He hid his homicidal tendencies from mental health professionals throughout his life."
These programs are designed to service students better and find potential problems faster.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the shootings on the morning of April 16 was the two-hour gap between the incident in West Ambler-Johnston Hall and the incident Norris Hall.
The Holtzman Center at the Inn at Virginia Tech was not even half-full, quite a contrast to the end of last semester, when reporters were fighting for seats.
"I don't have fond memories of this room," Hincker said at the beginning of the conference.
Based on the results of the report, the recommendations will be helpful, Steger said.
"Nobody can say for certain what would have happened if different decisions were made," Steger said. "However, to say that something could have been prevented is not to say it would have been. Moreover, it is entirely possible that this tragedy, horrific as it is, could have been worse."
