Secure Community Network (SCN) Hosts One of the Largest Ever Nationwide School Security Preparedness Sessions with Homeland Security and FBI – January 4, 2013

One month after the tragedy in Newtown, nearly 700 Jewish schools nationwide participate in security preparedness planning and response training

NEW YORK – Less than one month after the mass shooting attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the Secure Community Network (SCN), the national homeland security initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Conference of Presidents, coordinated and hosted a national school safety and security training session Jan. 3, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The webinar featured a special presentation by Margolis Healy & Associates, one of the country’s foremost school safety and campus security firms, and attracted nearly 700 recorded participants, making it one of the largest ever held for Jewish community organizations.

“We have a duty and responsibility to ensure the schools we own and operate are taking the necessary preparedness, safety and security measures to truly establish the safest, most secure learning environments possible for students, teachers and those who frequent our schools,” said Paul Goldenberg, SCN National Director, who led the call.

The call included senior executives from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security who provided a briefing and discussion of programs and resources available to assist with security preparedness planning and response. In addition, Dr. Gary Margolis, managing partner at Margolis Healy & Associates and twenty-year law enforcement veteran, and his colleagues reviewed and discussed some of the practical security considerations and recommendation schools can and should be doing as part of their security programs. The webinar was co-sponsored by JCCA, Orthodox Union, Union for Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Given the volume of community response during the Jan. 3 session, SCN is also planning to host a second session for schools the week of January 7-11.

Following the tragic shooting event in Newtown, Conn., SCN also established a security webpage dedicated to “Safe Schools,” which includes comprehensive security planning, training and exercise video and training resources. The creation of the “Safe Schools” webpage followed the launch of the Sector Specific Tabletop Exercise Program (SSTEP), a new online initiative that will help Jewish communities and institutions heighten security by participating in online “tabletop exercises” that simulate potential threats and run through the best potential responses. This innovative program will allow institutions to test and exercise their plans, through the use of real-life scenarios.

For additional school safety & security resources, please visit the Secure Community Network website at www.scnus.org. In addition, schools and facilities seeking additional consultative security services including security assessments, crisis management planning and training may contact SCN at 212.284.6940 or scandesk@scnus.org for additional information.

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About Secure Community Network Secure Community Network is the national homeland security initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents. SCN plans, coordinates and facilitates Tabletop Exercises for Federations and communities across the United States. For more information, please visit www.scnus.org

CONTACT: 
Hanah Smith 
202.478.6143, hsmith@mrss.com

Michelle Blundell
202.478.6176, mblundell@mrss.com

Daniel Pascale CPP Joins Margolis Healy – October 2, 2012

October 1, 2012 RICHMOND, VT — Margolis Healy announced Daniel Pascale CPP has joined its team of full-time professionals as the Senior Director of Security and Emergency Management Services.

Most recently Pascale served as the Senior Director of Emergency Communications and Security Technology for the University of Chicago. Previously to the University of Chicago, he served 9 years with Rutgers University where he held the position of Commander of Security Operations and later the Director of Emergency Management.

Pascale is board certified through ASIS International as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and was selected as one of America’s “Top 20 Security Professionals under 40” by Security Director News in July 2009. He will serve Margolis Healy clients nationwide from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

About Margolis Healy: Margolis Healy & Associates, LLC, is a higher education consulting firm specializing in campus safety, security and regulatory compliance. Dr. Gary J. Margolis, Mr. Steven J. Healy and their team are specialists with decades of real-world experience serving the federal government and colleges and universities, large and small, public and private, around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.margolishealy.com

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Jonathan Kassa Vice President (866) 817-5817 jkassa@margolishealy.com

For additional information, contact: Sally Kieny (802) 864-6710 PR@Marketing-Partners.com

Margolis Healy Leading Campus Safety and Security Experts, Release Annual Survey Findings – June 15, 2012

Richmond, VT — June 15, 2012

Margolis Healy, a higher education consulting firm specializing in campus safety, security and regulatory compliance, today announced key findings from its 2011 Campus Safety and Security Survey. The annual survey includes data collected from 298 administrators at many of the nation’s top universities and colleges.

Among the most notable findings:

• Ninety percent of respondents indicated that they were moderately concerned to extremely concerned about single victim crimes (i.e., sexual assault, assault, homicides), while nearly 70% expressed moderate concern to extreme concern about multiple victim crimes (such as mass murders, hostage situations and bomb threats) occurring on campus.
• More than one-third of respondents believe their campus is more likely to experience a violent act today compared to five years ago.
• Despite these concerns about increased violence, nearly four out of 10 respondents noted that their campus or university had not conducted a comprehensive safety and security vulnerability assessment (i.e., a review of the range of critical incidents, threats, vulnerabilities and security/safety related needs).

"We believe institutions are more likely to face critical incidents such as fires, chemical spills, power outages and weather-related emergencies, such as floods or ice storms,” said Steven J. Healy, managing partner at Margolis Healy. "Our survey results imply that some institutions may not be paying enough attention to managing and recovering from these types of high probability incidents."

"If this moderate to low concern is indicative of planning complacency and inaction, then this flies in the face of our evolving thinking about all-hazard emergency management in the college and university setting and the Congressional intent behind recent changes to the Clery Act, " said Dr. Gary J. Margolis, Margolis Healy managing partner. "These revisions specifically underscore the need for an all hazards approach to emergency management."

"It's our hope that the insights gained through the 2011 survey, along with our past surveys, will help higher education administrators make evidence-based decisions as they work to enhance their approach to campus safety and security," Mr. Healy added.

The 2011 survey also asked respondents about campus special events, Title IX investigations and training, and travel abroad programs. Survey respondents represented higher education institutions nationwide, with a fairly equal split between public and private, 56.7% and 43.3% respectively. Nearly half (47.7%) of all respondents represented institutions with 10,000 or more students, with more than three-quarters of all respondents indicating their student populations were primarily undergraduate.

Fieldwork was conducted between January 11, 2012 and January 30, 2012 using an online survey methodology. Complete survey results can be viewed at www.margolishealy.com/survey.

About Margolis Healy:
Margolis Healy and Associates, LLC, is a higher education consulting firm specializing in campus safety, security and regulatory compliance. Dr. Gary J. Margolis and Mr. Steven J. Healy are specialists with three decades of real-world experience serving colleges and universities, large and small, public and private, across the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.margolis-healy.com

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For additional information, contact:
Pat Heffernan
(802) 864-6710
PR@Marketing-Partners.com

Jonathan Kassa
Vice President
(866) 817-5817
jkassa@margolishealy.com

CAMPUS SENTINEL, a Free New App Providing Crime and Safety Statistics for Universities and Colleges – May 3, 2012

RICHMOND, Vt. --(Business Wire)--

Campus Sentinel, Inc., a company that specializes in the development of mobile applications for higher education safety and security, launched CAMPUS SENTINEL, a free mobile application for the iOS platform (iPhone (News - Alert), iPad, and iPod) that provides students and parents with campus crime statistics for more than 4,400 universities and colleges throughout the United States; important safety resources on topics relevant to students and their families; breaking campus-based security and safety news; and access to dozens of free resources from leading not-for-profit organizations. It was announced today by Dr. Gary J. Margolis, President & Co-Founder of Campus Sentinel, Inc.

"We are excited to launch this new app to provide families with important safety resources and crime statistics as they select a College or University," said Dr. Margolis. "Parents and students can feel confident that they have done their extensive research, and armed with campus safety knowledge they can focus on their higher education as they head off to campus in the fall." Campus Sentinel gives users the ability to compare institutions by self-reported crime stats across years and locations, and view resources on topics that include travel abroad safety; mental health needs; qustions to explore on campus visits; off-campus housing; gender and sexual violence; crime prevention; protecting your online reputation, and more. The app's methodology for displaying the crime data and information gathered through the Clery Act provides depth, dimension and ease of understanding to the data. In this way, Campus Sentinel aids parents and students with understanding the safety of a particular campus in relation to its self-reported crime statistics, and in comparison with other campuses.

Campus Sentinel is available for free in the iTunes App Store. www.iTunes.com/apps/CampusSentinel

About Campus Sentinel, Inc: Campus Sentinel, Inc., is a company specializing in mobile applications for higher education safety and security. As the managing partners of Margolis Healy & Associates, LLC, the company principals, Dr. Gary J. Margolis and Steven J. Healy, have more than 15 years each of providing consulting services to clients in the education, public and private sectors, and specialize in higher education safety and security. For more information about Campus Sentinel, please visit www.campussentinel.com; www.facebook.com/campussentinel; www.itunes.com/apps/campussentinel; www.margolishealy.com.

Margolis Healy Offers Top Five Tips for Parents and Students to Enhance Safety on Campus – August 25, 2011

Richmond, VT, August 24, 2011

Margolis Healy & Associates (MHA), a leading professional services firm specializing in higher education safety and security, today announced its annual Top Five Tips for Campus Safety.

1. Review the institution’s Annual Security Report and attend programs presented by the university, including campus safety orientation programs, sexual & gender violence awareness programs, and those that focus on high-risk activities, including alcohol and drugs.

2. Take advantage of the programs offered by the campus public safety agency such as campus safety escorts, personal safety strategies, valuables-registration programs, and other initiatives aimed at student safety.

3. Safeguard against a false sense of security; lock your door; orient yourself to the campus using maps and daytime exploration; travel about campus smartly; always let a friend know where you are going, and protect valuable personal items.

4. Enroll your personal email and cell phone in the institution’s emergency notification system.

5. Accept your responsibility to contribute to community safety by reporting hazards and crimes. If you see something, say something. Don't be a bystander - tell someone.

"As a consultant to the nation's top institutions for higher education, we see and hear about many incidents and we understand the importance of educating students about the facts at this time of year, as well as year-round," said Dr. Gary J. Margolis, managing partner of Margolis Healy and Associates, LLC. "While our top five tips are certainly not the end-all, be-all, they are at least the basis for a critical discussion that should take place between parents and their students during this back to school period."

About Margolis Healy and Associates, LLC: Margolis Healy and Associates, LLC, is a professional services firm specializing in higher education safety and security. With more than 15 years each of providing consulting services to clients in the education, public and private sectors, Dr. Gary J. Margolis and Mr. Steven J. Healy have positioned MHA as a leading professional services firm for safety and security needs at universities and colleges.

For more information about MHA, please visit www.margolishealy.com MHA Contact: Nicole C. Twohig, 802-864-6710

VP Biden Announces New Administration Effort to Help Nation’s Schools Address Sexual Violence – April 3, 2011

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

April 4, 2011

Vice President Biden Announces New Administration Effort to Help Nation’s Schools Address Sexual Violence

Vice President, Secretary Duncan introduce guidance on legal obligations to prevent and respond to sexual violence in school and on campus

Washington, D.C. – Today, Vice President Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan introduced comprehensive guidance to help schools, colleges and universities better understand their obligations under federal civil rights laws to prevent and respond to the growing problem of campus sexual assault. The new guidance, announced at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, makes clear the legal obligations under Title IX of any school, college or university receiving federal funds to respond promptly and effectively to sexual violence. The guidance also provides practical examples to aid educators in ensuring the safety of their students.

Under Title IX – a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities – discrimination can include sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion. The guidance, the first of its kind from an Administration specifically advising schools, colleges and universities that their responsibilities under Title IX include protecting students from sexual violence, also details enforcement strategies that schools and the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) may use to end sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects.

“Sexual violence can happen to anyone, and it happens at the best colleges,” said Vice President Biden. “Very few report the crime to law enforcement because when they do, universities often fail to discipline the offender, leaving him free to do it again. Colleges, universities, community colleges have to be part of the solution - they’re in the best position to stop this. The President and I are committed to giving teeth to the prevention of sexual violence, but it’s your firm commitment we need.”

“Every school would like to believe it is immune from sexual violence but the facts suggest otherwise,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Our first goal is prevention through education. Information is always the best way to combat sexual violence. Our larger goal is to raise awareness to an issue that should have no place in society and especially in our schools,” Duncan continued.

“Schools must provide an environment where all students have an equal opportunity to learn,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Russlynn Ali. “Schools are often in the best position to prevent sexual violence and to respond to it promptly and effectively if it occurs. OCR is already working with schools to help them in their fight against the harmful effects of sexual violence by providing technical assistance and seeking remedies designed to stop such conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remediate its impact.” For over 20 years, Vice President Biden has led the fight to combat violence against women. As the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, then-Senator Biden exposed high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking experienced by women every day in this country – redefining the way domestic violence is handled through changes in law enforcement, improvements in the criminal justice system and the establishment of shelters and services for victims. As Vice President, he has continued the cause, creating unprecedented coordination and cooperation across the federal government to combat violence against women.

Yet in spite of the significant progress made since the passage of VAWA, the threat of violence and abuse continues for a new generation of women. Young women aged 16-24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault, while 1 in 5 will be a victim of sexual assault during college. Today, with Secretary Duncan, the Vice President highlighted the Administration’s commitment to raising awareness and promoting policies to prevent violence and sexual assault against women of all ages.

For more information about The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the anti-discrimination statutes that it enforces, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/aboutocr.html

VP Biden and Sec. Duncan to Address Issue of Sexual Assault at our Nation’s Colleges – March 30, 2011

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release - March 30, 2011

Vice President Biden to Visit University of New Hampshire to Discuss Issue of Sexual Assault at our Nation’s Schools and Colleges

Vice President, Secretary Duncan to announce new guidance for preventing and responding to sexual violence in school and on campus

Washington, D.C. – On Monday, April 4, Vice President Biden will visit the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to call attention to the high rates of sexual assault and violence committed against young women in schools and on college campuses across the country. During their visit, the Vice President and Secretary Duncan will introduce new guidance to help schools, colleges and universities understand their civil rights obligations to better prevent and respond to sexual assault.

For over 20 years, Vice President Biden has led the fight to combat violence against women. As the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, then-Senator Biden exposed high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking experienced by women every day in this country – redefining the way domestic violence is handled through changes in law enforcement, improvements in the criminal justice system and the establishment of shelters and services for victims. As Vice President, he has continued the cause, creating unprecedented coordination and cooperation across the federal government to combat violence against women.

Yet in spite of the significant progress made since the passage of VAWA, the threat of violence and abuse continues for a new generation of women. Young women aged 16-24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault, while 1 in 5 will be a victim of sexual assault during college. With Secretary Duncan, the Vice President will highlight the Administration’s commitment to raising awareness and promoting policies to prevent violence and sexual assault against women of all ages.

Former VT Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas R. Tremblay Joins Margolis He as Consulting Associate – March 23, 2011 Brings Nearly Three Decades of Public Safety and Law Enforcement Expertise to the Nation's Most Recognized Firm in Higher Education Safety and Security. Tremblay to Speak at U.S. Department of Education's Title IX Sexual Assault Conference in Boston on March 24, 2011.

Jonathan Kassa Joins Margolis Healy as Vice President for Operations & Business Development – February 14, 2011 Former Executive Director at Security On Campus, Inc. (SOC) Brings Over 16 Years of Innovative Thinking and Experience in Safety and Security to Margolis Healy

Managing Partner to Moderate Bureau of Justice Assistance Workshop at 2010 National Conference – November 29, 2010 Steven J. Healy to Moderate Discussion on "Campus-Community Partnerships: Making Campuses and Surrounding Neighborhoods Safer"