'Never Happen Again' Is Not Enough

Note: Available below are: (1) "'Never Again' Is Not Enough," The Gazette, February 28, 2018, immediately below, (2) "Why 'Never Again' Is Not Enough," Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 7, 2018; and "Why 'Never Again' is Never Enough," The Daily Iowan, March 19, 2018, p. 4, (3) the original blog post from which these columns were drawn, beginning with some excerpts from Vanessa Miller's story.

'Never Happen Again' Is Not Enough
Nicholas Johnson
The Gazette, February 28, 2018, p. A6
When I read Vanessa Miller’s report that an audit revealed “unacceptable risks” in the University of Iowa’s emergency preparedness (Feb. 18), I was reminded of a story my mother liked to tell.

A woman returned home to find a penciled note left by her new cleaning woman. It read: “I’m sorry, but I can’t work in a home that keeps an alligator in the bathtub. I would have said something earlier, but I did not think the situation would arise.”

Our school superintendent advised new school board members, “I don’t like surprises.”

There are surprises in life. Situations arise one could never have anticipated. That’s true.

But most disasters and crises are predictable.

Every computer hard drive will crash someday. Mine did a couple of weeks ago. I make lots of stupid computer mistakes, but not this one, this time. I didn’t have to say, “This must never happen again.” I was able to say, “Thank goodness there’s a backup on an external hard drive.”

Railroad companies know that without “positive train control,” their trains can jump the tracks or crash into other trains, and people can die. City officials know that without winter housing for the homeless, some may die from the cold. University officials know the medical, mental and behavioral consequences of students’ excessive alcohol consumption.

And federal and state legislators (along with Iowa’s governor) know that, so long as they march in lockstep with the National Rifle Association, more schoolchildren will be shot.

For those paid big bucks to lead institutions — legislators, corporate CEOs, university presidents, school superintendents — responsibility for identifying and preventing potential disasters is part of their job description. We’re not talking about the equivalent of unpredictable alligators in bathtubs. We’re talking systemic failures, as the UI audit suggests.

Yes, we want to learn from mistakes, to do better next time. But that no longer can be the “get out of jail free” card for the legislators and executives who’ve failed to do their “Job One.” OK, yes, tell us what you’re going to do so we, and others, won’t be going through this again.

But our real question for you is why, after 300 school shootings, did you so miserably fail at your job of anticipating the danger, and preventing it from happening this time?

Nicholas Johnson is a former school board member in Iowa City and maintains FromDC2Iowa.blogspot.com and www.nicholasjohnson.org. Comments: mailabox@nicholasjohnson.org

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Why 'Never Again' Is Not Enough
Nicholas Johnson
Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 7, 2018, p. A7
And the identical text as:

Why 'Never Again' is Never Enough
Nicholas Johnson
The Daily Iowan, March 19, 2018, p. 4
A recent audit revealed the University of Iowa's emergency preparedness has "unacceptable weaknesses" creating "unacceptable risks."

Following the next predictable campus crisis will it be enough for UI's administrators to say, "we must see that this never happens again"? Is that an adequate response to school shootings by federal and state legislators? I don't think so.

There are some truly unpredictable surprises.

My mother told the story of a woman who found a penciled note from her new cleaning woman. It read, "I'm sorry, but I can't work in a home with an alligator in the bathtub. I would have said something earlier, but I did not think the situation would arise."

But railroads know that without "positive train control" passenger and freight trains can jump the tracks, crash into other trains, spill oil, and kill people.

Iowa's NRA-backed legislators and governor know stubborn support of every NRA demand means more school children will be shot.

Preventing such disasters is part of the job description of those getting the big bucks to lead corporations and government. Predictable shootings aren't unexpected alligators in bathtubs.

Leaders’ performance should be judged by, not what they propose to prevent "next time," but by what they failed to do to prevent “this time.”

Nicholas Johnson
Iowa City
And:
Nicholas Johnson
Former Iowa City School Board member

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Why 'Must Never Happen Again' Is Not Enough [original blogpost]

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa’s emergency preparedness — including its ability to handle bomb threats, health crises and hostage situations — has “unacceptable weaknesses” that expose the campus to “unacceptable risks,” a new audit reports.

The report . . . found problems with the UI’s emergency policies and plans, its training protocols, its communication strategies and its incident follow-ups. . . .

The audit comes as the nation grapples with another campus shooting — this time at a Florida high school, where a former student shot and killed 17 people.

Vanessa Miller, "Audit Finds 'Unacceptable Weaknesses' in University of Iowa Emergency Plans," The Gazette, February 18, 2018, p. A1.

My mother enjoyed telling the story of a woman who returned home to find a penciled note left by her new cleaning woman: "I'm sorry, but I can't work in a home that keeps an alligator in the bathtub. I would have said something earlier, but I did not think the situation would arise." [Photo credit: Wasilla, Alaska, Police Department.]

Our school superintendent advised new school board members, "I don't like surprises."

There are surprises in life. Situations arise that one could never have anticipated. That's true.

But most disasters and crises are predictable.

Every computer hard drive will crash someday. Mine did a couple weeks ago. I make lots of stupid computer mistakes, but not this one, this time. I didn't have to say, "This must never happen again." I was able to say, "Thank goodness there's a backup on an external hard drive."

Railroad companies know that without "positive train control" their trains can jump the tracks, or crash into other trains, and people can die. City officials know that without winter housing for the homeless, some can die from the cold. University officials know the medical, mental, and behavioral consequences of students' excessive alcohol consumption.

Federal and state legislators know that, so long as they march in lockstep with the NRA, more school children will be shot.

For those paid big bucks to lead institutions -- legislators, corporate CEOs, university presidents, school superintendents -- responsibility for identifying and preventing potential disasters is part of their job description. We're not talking about the equivalent of unpredictable alligators in bathtubs. We're talking systemic failures, as the UI audit suggests.

Yes, we want to learn from mistakes, to do better next time. But that can no longer be the "get out of jail free" card for the legislators and executives who've failed to do their "Job One." Yes, tell us what you're going to do so we, and others, won't be going through this again.

But our real question for you is, why, after 300 school shootings, did you so miserably fail at your job of anticipating the danger, and preventing it from happening this time?

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