Security measures continue to grow to assure safety for students on campus after an incident near Doudna Hall last semester.
“There was a lot of talk in recent years about developing a more robust security program,” Scott Marquardt, University Chief of Police, said. “Starting up the program is typically the most difficult and the most costly.”
There are security cameras in the Children’s Center, Financial Services Department and the Cashiers’ Office. Additionally, there are security cameras in some residence halls.
“We currently have cameras in Bridgeway, Rountree, and Southwest Hall in their elevator bays,” Matthew Zielinski, Assistant Director of Residence Life, said. “Rountree has a few more in their lobby area and near their front desk as well.”
The department of residence life also hopes to include the Dobson Hall renovation to its list of increased security.
“We are excited to have Dobson renovated this summer and as part of that, an elevator will be installed and a camera will be included,” Zielinski said.
In recent years, card access to enter residence halls has been added as an additional security measure.
“When we switched to the card access to the halls, we had to wire the entrances for cameras, but there are no plans currently to add them,” Zielinski said.
Both Marquardt and Zielinski mentioned outdoor cameras are not in consideration due to low reliability and cost of an efficient system.
“We’re always looking for what seems like a dark area and what we can do to fix it,” Zielinski said.
The Department of Residence Life reviewed the lighting by the entrance of Dobson Hall and started a pilot program that may be considered for other halls.
“My biggest concern is lighting on campus,” Howard McKee, a junior forensics investigation major, said. “I believe that some sidewalks are poorly lit.”
Cameras are not the only option for increased security on campus. Last year, campus administration joined student governance leaders in a walk around campus at night to review lighting and placement of blue boxes.
Zielinski also said that if students have concerns, they are encouraged to talk to their hall’s staff or to contact Residence Hall Association.
Both Marquardt and Zielinski mentioned there is a cost to security, and neither seemed concerned about upcoming budget cuts affecting student’s security on campus.
“To say that security is being affected by the larger state wide issues, not really,” Marquardt said.