FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2008
Contact: K.E. Schwab
724.738.2199
karl.schwab@sru.edu

SRU marks Virginia Tech tragedy with daylong safety seminar 

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech University shootings, Slippery Rock University will host a daylong seminar, featuring Carolyn Reinach Wolf, Esq., founder of Campus Behavioral Health Risk Consultants, LLC. Wolf will discuss how the University could better prepare to deal with mental health problems, student confidentiality issues and campus safety. 

           The SRU program is Tuesday in the University Union.

           Wolf’s “Identification and Intervention for Students at Risk: Legal and Mental Health Considerations” morning program will be followed by an online audio seminar titled “What We’ve Learned: Higher Education after Virginia Tech” at 2 p.m. in Room 206 of the Union.

           Senior administrators will meet with Wolf at 9 a.m. to learn about the decision-making process involved in dealing with students at risk.

           At 10 a.m., Wolf will offer an open session for the entire University community. The session will include information about identifying students at risk, proposed changes in the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 2008, parental notification procedures, implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and related mental health topics. She will also discuss on- and off-campus communication. Those planning to attend the session are asked to call 724.738.2223.

           “The Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University tragedies exhibit the serious issue higher education must address. These programs will be an invaluable training experience for us all,” said Constance Foley, SRU vice president for student life.

           Thirty-three people were killed in two separate shooting incidents on the Virginia Tech campus last April 15. Within hours, police determined a single gunman, who had then turned the gun on himself, was responsible. The event remains the deadliest campus shooting rampage in American history. Feb. 14, a gunman at Northern Illinois Universityshot 23 people, killing five, before killing himself.

           Wolf, a mental health legal and security expert, travels the country consulting with higher education institutions and professionals to address concerns raised after the campus shootings. 

           She is a senior partner in mental health law/hospital litigation practice at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato and Einiger law form in Lake Success, N.Y.

           She founded the risk consultants practice in 2006 as a consulting consortium of legal, clinical, public policy and law enforcement experts offering consultation, training and education to assist various disciplines on campus in formulating strategic responses, making informed decisions, creating effective police and preparing for a variety of evolving, urgent and emergent situations on and university campuses.

           Wolf’s juris doctorate was awarded by Hofstra University School of Law. Her master of science was earned in health care administration at the School of Public Health at Harvard and her master in business administration was earned at Hofstra’s School of Business. She received her undergraduate degree in history from the University of Maryland. 

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.