As a parent of a UCSB female student, I called frantically Saturday morning, Minneapolis time, to try and reach my daughter. Her cell phone rolled to voice mail, and my texts went unanswered as well. I called UCSB to learn their switchboard hours are Monday through Friday, but I did get the recorded message of a number to call if this was an emergency. The shootings in Isla Vista prompted my calls. So I called the UCSB emergency number, which got me UCSB Police. Upon hearing that my daughter lived in Isla Vista, the university police could only offer the I.V. police phone number. Under the circumstances, I was quite surprised and terribly frustrated that UCSB couldn’t handle this emergency inquiry.

Our family lives in Minnesota, and being a long way away from such a horrific incident was especially unnerving given the university’s lack of emergency coordination. I will end this letter by saying I did call I.V. police and they were able to provide the specific information I needed. Thank you, Isla Vista Foot Patrol, and thank god.

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