University of Utah outlines changes after campus shooting

A law enforcement officer walks near the South Medical Tower on the University of Utah campus during a search for a man they say shot and killed a University of Utah student outside of a dormitory on campus, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Salt Lake City. The female student's body was found in a car near the medical towers, University of Utah Police Lt. Brian Wahlin said. The man they are searching for and the student had "a previous relationship," Wahlin said. (Kristin Murphy/The Deseret News via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — University of Utah President Ruth Watkins says the college has begun making changes to correct deficiencies exposed in the lead-up to the fatal shooting of a track athlete on campus by her ex-boyfriend last year.

This Aug. 21, 2018 photo, provided by the University of Utah, shows Lauren McCluskey, a member of the University of Utah cross country and track and field team. McCluskey, a University of Utah student was shot and killed on campus by a former boyfriend Melvin Rowland, who was found dead hours later inside a church Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, authorities said. (Steve C. Wilson/University of Utah via AP)

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Watkins told the university’s board of trustees on Tuesday that campus police officers are receiving training to recognize signs of domestic violence and that a victim advocate will be hired. She says steps will be taken to improve information sharing across campus.

Watkins’ progress report on the school’s response to the Oct. 22 shooting came on what would have been victim Lauren McCluskey’s 22nd birthday. The senior from Pullman, Washington, was killed by Melvin Rowland, an ex-boyfriend who she discovered was hiding his sex offender-status.

McCluskey had reported Rowland’s harassment to campus police before her death.

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