© 2024 Red River Radio
Voice of the Community
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

LSUS Holds Forum On Campus Safety In Response To Recent Threat

Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News

LSUS CAMPUS SAFETY FORUM - Last Friday… LSUS issued a campus-wide  emergency  notification after  discovering  YouTube  Videos  apparently showing Sutherland  ranting  on Social Media.   These threats were  considered  credible  and  local law  enforcement  began investigating  along  with the FBI. At an Open Forum on the LSUS Campus yesterday Chancellor Larry  Clark   explained  that  no matter what safety precautions are taken, people  need to recognize  potential  conditions  and  warn  of  

Credit Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News
/
Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News
Larry Clark, Chancellor-LSU in Shreveport

possible  threats.  "We need to provide as safe a setting as we can and unfortunately,  sadly,  I cannot say to someone that I can assure safety;no one can. But by us working better together as a campus community, in to how behavior is changing, how to be supportive of people who need help, encourage to get help. How we can get our processes working better,  more security that we need to provide, of cameras, of notification systems.  We need to move more quickly towards that,  we have plans for; we need to expedite some of those plan."   LSUS Campus Police Chief Donald Wray appeared at the forum to address 

Credit Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News
/
Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News
CAMPUS OPEN FORUM - Students and faculty attend the open forum held Monday in the University Center Theater at LSUS.

security specifics.  He said because of this recent event, all students and faculty need to develop a heightened sense of awareness. " If we can just improve upon their situational awareness, again--I don't want them in fear. I don't want them to think 'the sky is falling' today or tomorrow.  If it never happens during my tenure here,  I'm fine with that. But there's nothing that says we can't do better preparation , better information; this help changes that mindset."​  As to what happens next,  there  was mention of conducting 

Credit Courtesy: YouTube/Druid Focket screencapture
/
Courtesy: YouTube/Druid Focket screencapture
SOCIAL MEDIA - A YouTube screen capture of a woman identified as Amanda Sutherland during one of many recently posted videos in which rants and verbal threats were directed towards LSUS and faculty.

more safety drills.  A campus safety survey is in the works which will be sent to students for their input.  As for the suspect,  Sutherland is currently held on $500,000 bail but is expected  to  be extradited  back  to  Louisiana.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.