Campus Under Siege: Why Universities Are Still Soft Targets — And How to Fix Them
- CrisisWire
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
Campus safety is no longer theoretical. From Virginia Tech to Michigan State, universities have repeatedly shown that they are soft targets — vulnerable to active shooters, hazing deaths, mass notification failures, and leadership breakdowns.
In Campus Under Siege: Why Universities Are Soft Targets — And How to Fix Them, Warren Pulley — U.S. Air Force veteran, former LAPD officer, and FEMA/DHS-certified threat management specialist — delivers both a hard-hitting exposé and a hands-on playbook for higher education leaders, parents, and students.
The Problem: Why Universities Remain Soft Targets
Despite billions invested in cameras and technology, fundamental failures persist:
Behavioral Threat Assessments are inconsistent or ignored.
Mass Notification Systems remain slow and unreliable.
Greek Life Hazing continues under a culture of silence.
Dorm and Campus Security Audits reveal doors left unsecured, patrols under-resourced, and visitor policies unenforced.
Crisis Leadership at the president/dean level remains unprepared for active shooter events.
Case Studies / Real-World Evidence
Virginia Tech (2007): Communication delays contributed to mass casualties.
Penn State: Hazing deaths exposed institutional blind spots in student culture.
Michigan State (2023): Active shooter response revealed breakdowns in leadership coordination.
UNC (2023): Students were locked down for hours while communication systems lagged.
Federal reviews from the FBI, DHS, and FEMA repeatedly highlight campus vulnerabilities — yet many universities fail to act on lessons learned.
Actionable Fixes (The Playbook) from Campus Under Siege
1. Implement Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams (TATs)
Identify potential attackers early and intervene before violence escalates.
2. Fix Mass Notification Failures
Ensure alerts reach the entire campus community in seconds, not minutes.
3. Address Hazing Culture Head-On
Enforce accountability for fraternities/sororities; protect whistleblowers.
4. Conduct Comprehensive Security Audits
Review dorm access, visitor management, and patrol coverage quarterly.
5. Train Leaders for Crisis Response
Presidents, deans, and boards must undergo active shooter and ICS/NIMS leadership training.
For detailed checklists and ready-to-use forms, see Campus Under Siege.
Leadership Responsibility
Campus safety is not just a policing issue — it is a leadership mandate:
University presidents are accountable for Clery Act compliance.
Trustees and boards must demand transparent safety audits.
Parents and students must demand accountability and readiness.
As Pulley emphasizes in both Campus Under Siege and Locked Down, safety isn’t about appearances — it’s about systems that work under fire.
📘 Read Campus Under Siege: Why Universities Are Soft Targets — And How to Fix Them — the definitive guide for university leaders, trustees, parents, and students demanding safer campuses.
📧 Contact CrisisWire at crisiswire@proton.me for campus threat assessments, policy reviews, and continuity planning.
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