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A3slatenews@gmail.comSeptember 20, 2011

Many students walking around campus pass by a Shippensburg Univeristy police officer every now and then, and soon they will start noticing something extra being carried around.

SU officers are now car-rying around stun guns.

To find out why this is a necessity for SU police, I spoke with Cytha Gris-som the Director of Public Safety at SU.

Why do you think SU police need to carry Tasers?

“Tasers are another tool that police officers may use

to perform their duties. “Many times, when an

individual sees that an offi-cer is carrying a Taser, the situation can be resolved without further action.

Recovery from a stun gun deployment is much quicker/easier than from pepperspray.

“Tasers are very ben-eficial in keeping both stu-dents and police officers safe.”

Did the officers have to be trained on how to use a Taser?

“Yes. They received hands on training, they viewed a lengthy training video and they had to pass a written exam with at least an 80 percent.”

Who ultimately decided that SU police officers should start carrying Tasers?

“The process began by me taking the proposal to my vice president. She then took it before the pres-ident who required me to answer several questions and put together a written proposal.

“I then made a presen-tation before the Student Senate. They too asked questions and then gave me their endorsement.

“I then made a presenta-tion before the University Council of Trustees. After they gave their consent, the president gave the ulti-mate consent.”

Do you foresee actually using the Taser?

“Of course my hope is that we never have to use a Taser. There may be incidents, how-ever, where one will have to be deployed.

“I am glad that we have such a tool, and I am confident the Tasers will only be used when necessary.”

Can you think of any in-stances in the past that the Tasers may have been useful?

“In situations where an individual was violent and both the public and a police officer’s safety were put in jeopardy by trying to sub-due him or her.”

Do you person-ally agree with the deci-sion to carry them? Why or why not?

“I absolutely agree. Tas-ers are not a new law en-forcement device. They are being used in other PASSHE institutions, as well as many many other local police departments.

They are a safe, effective tool for police officers all around the country.

“It is the responsibil-ity of the university police department to provide as safe a living and learning environment as possible. Tasers help us meet that responsibility.”

SU police armed with Tasers Dana RotheRmel

Staff Writer

SU ranked in national magazine

Shippensburg University and the John L. Grove Col-lege of Business have both recently earned impressive rankings.

“U.S. News and World Report” named SU among top universities in the North in the “Regional Uni-versity” category in their 2012 edition of Best Col-leges.

SU is tied for No. 82 along with eight other colleges — including Millersville Uni-versity, West Chester Uni-versity and Robert Morris University.

The rankings are based on peer assessment, gradu-ation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial re-sources and alumni dona-tion rates.

“Shippensburg Univer-sity has a long tradition of excellence, and this honor by a national publication is yet another recognition of that quality,” University President William Ruud

said. “At Shippensburg, everything we do is for our students and we’re proud that all of those efforts have earned this national honor.

“I congratulate all mem-bers of the campus commu-nity.”

The John L. Grove Col-lege of Business specifically received recognition in the “Best Undergraduate Busi-ness Programs” category.

The Association to Ad-vance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) ranked the college 343 out of 633 accredited undergraduate programs.

The ranking was deter-mined by a survey of deans and senior faculty at each undergraduate business program accredited by AACSB.

Participants rated the quality of all programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished).

John Kooti, dean of the college, said, “The John L. Grove College of Business continues to be one of the top leaders in business edu-cation among AACSB ac-credited business schools in the world.

“The U.S. News and World Report 2012 edition of undergraduate business program ranking is a won-derful testimony to this dedication.

“I am very proud of the John L. Grove College of Business faculty, staff and students for continuing a 40-year tradition of excel-lence in business educa-tion.”

Stephanie WyjaDkaStaff Writer

“Shippensburg University has a long tradition of

excellence and this honor by a national

publication is yet another recognition

of that quality.”

-SU President William Rudd

A grant from the Penn-sylvania State System of Higher Education will allow Shippensburg University to enhance its joint master of social work program with Millersville University.

The university was awarded the $28,800 grant to purchase equipment and upgrade facilities to enhance teaching effective-ness through videoconfer-encing.

The changes will allow greater flexibility in class-room arrangements and activities, as well as better interaction among students and faculty during simulta-neously broadcast sessions at both campuses.

Project directors for the grant are Marita Flagler, co-director of the Millers-ville-Shippensburg MSW Program and a member of Shippensburg’s Depart-ment of Social Work and Gerontology, and Michael Yoh, Shippensburg’s direc-tor of media services.

The grant will be used to upgrade the videoconfer-encing equipment now used to link the two universities, including new graphics dis-

plays, and to improve the room’s acoustics.

Shippensburg and Mill-ersville, in a historic joint arrangement, began offer-ing an MSW program in Fall 2006.

The joint program in-cludes a mix of traditional campus-based instruction and distance education technology and allows stu-dents to take courses at the campus of their choice. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social

Work Education. The mission of the pro-

gram is to provide acces-sible social work graduate education in the south cen-tral region of Pennsylvania in order to prepare stu-dents for advanced general-ist practice and to provide professional leadership and contribute to the develop-ment and dissemination of social work practice knowl-edge.

The program seeks to: 1. Prepare students for

competent advanced gen-eralist practice, with a fo-cus on rural client systems, through the acquisition and demonstration of social work knowledge, skills and values.

2. Provide leadership and service for the social wel-fare systems and the social work profession.

3. Foster commitment to professional development and the creation and dis-semination of knowledge.

More information about the MSW program is avail-able at http://www.ship.edu/msw.

-Courtesy ofShippensbug University

SU receives MSW grant

The university was awarded the $28,800 grant to purchase equip-

ment and upgrade facilities to enhance teaching effective-

ness through video-conferencing.