After the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech, St. Joseph’s College staff members are reviewing the school’s own policies for crisis situations.

Since Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old Virginia Tech senior, opened fire in two separate shootings that morning, many questions have arisen about the response by Virginia Tech staff to the massacre in which 32 people, plus Cho, were killed, and an additional 29 were wounded.

Some have asked why, after the first shooting that resulted in two deaths, the campus was not notified about the incident. Most students, faculty, and staff carried on in ignorance for about two hours while Cho had not been apprehended by law enforcement.

Janet LaFlamme, director of human resources at St. Joseph’s College, said her department reviewed its crisis-response policies following the Virginia Tech killings.

“I re-looked at the communication plans and spoke with the director of communications, and we reviewed communication protocols,” said LaFlamme. “We touched base with every (department) director regarding that.”

LaFlamme also cited the school’s contact with Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department as an asset to the school’s security in the event of a crisis.

“We have a very collaborative relationship with Cumberland County. There’s a very good relationship there,” said LaFlamme.

Another issue that many have speculated about is disclosure. Cho reportedly had a history of psychological issues that his roommates were not aware of. In the wake of these shootings, many have said that if students and faculty had knowledge of these mental health problems, these killings may have been prevented.

But according to Dr. Liz Wiesen, director of the counseling center at St. Joseph’s, issues of privacy prevent the school from disclosing information.

“There are issues of privacy and confidentiality that we’re bound to,” said Wiesen.

Wiesen said that one benefit of being part of a small college is the ability to keep track of potential threats.

“On a small campus, it’s hard to be a stranger…Also, if a staff person or professor or a student has made an observation, someone at this college would follow up on it,” said Wiesen.

Following the shootings, the St. Joseph’s campus mourned with the rest of the country with some students using the counseling center.

“I think everyone was a little more tuned in to our students. It came up with some students, but who wouldn’t have been affected?” said Wiesen.

In the aftermath of the country’s deadliest shooting massacre, the Catholic college held a prayer service to remember the victims. According to Rebecca Hilton, director of the college’s campus ministry department, the service drew a crowd of about 50. Also, student members of campus ministry are planning a candlelit vigil to remember the victims next week.