Two years ago yesterday, April 16, 2007, people across the United States were shocked by a single student’s deadly rampage at Virginia Tech University.

The Virginia Tech Massacre was the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history, with Cho Seung-Hui claiming the lives of 32 people before taking his own life. The carnage sent shock waves throughout college campuses, and added to an already strong need in Binghamton University’s administration to further ensure the safety of their students and faculty.

“There was no one event that influenced our desire to present this program to our staff, but rather a realization of the world we now live in and people’s overall concern about violence and safety,” said Grace Hoefner, the associate director of Residential Life at BU.

The hostage situation at the American Civic Association on April 3 served as an unwelcome reminder. Thirteen people were killed by Jiverly Wong in Downtown Binghamton that day, just as BU started spring break.

The attack served doubly as a reminder of Virginia Tech after the weekend was over, when the Syracuse office of News 10 Now received a package from the shooter, including a detailed letter written by Wong and pictures of Wong holding his guns.

The massacre was the deadliest U.S. shooting since Virginia Tech.

Campus safety has been a top issue for BU officials.

“We want people to understand that there are things that you can do in these active shooter situations,” said Deputy Chief Timothy Faughnan of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. “We’re actively doing education programs all year long by request on things like personal safety and drug abuse, in addition to campus safety in general.”

Within two months of the Virginia Tech Massacre, University police were equipped with X-26 Tasers to aid them in non-lethal situations, sparking a series of debates throughout campus. A University alert text message system was also provided for students and was updated this school year to a SUNY-wide alert system.

Alerts are also sent to students and faculty via B-Line, and campus sirens were added and tested at the beginning of the school year.

In addition, University police offers two-part training sessions for resident assistants and directors on active shooter situations, among others.

“Truthfully, I would advocate that it is a program every BU student, faculty and staff member should have the opportunity to view,” Hoefner said.

The first part of the session involves watching a 15- to 20-minute University-tailored video presentation titled “When Lightning Strikes.” The second part of the session is a Q-and-A tailored to the concerns of Residential Life. Program attendees are taught to make quick assessments of situations and to notify emergency personnel immediately.

“We have RAs, RDs and ADs [assistant directors] on duty every night to be available to respond to any type of situation that may arise,” Hoefner said.