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Brown Accelerates Security Overhaul Ahead of Spring Semester

The move follows federal scrutiny of Clery Act compliance alongside independent reviews of the Dec. 13 shooting response.

Overview

  • Interim public safety chief Hugh T. Clements said remaining keyed buildings will transition to card access before the Spring 2026 semester, with officers posted at affected entrances until the change is complete.
  • Brown will install additional security cameras in key areas, including Barus & Holley, and expand blue-light emergency phones and panic buttons across campus.
  • The university is increasing security staffing and visible patrols, rolling out trauma‑informed safety and active‑shooter training, and strengthening coordination with local agencies and mental health resources.
  • An external after‑action review and a comprehensive campus safety assessment are underway, governed by a Brown Corporation committee with key findings to be shared publicly and shaped by community input.
  • The Department of Education has opened a Clery Act review; former police chief Rodney Chatman remains on leave as Clements leads reforms following criticism of camera gaps in the older section of Barus & Holley.