2008 Woodie Awards
Safety cameras installed on campus
Stephanie Wagner
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Walking at night may be safer than it has been in the past due to the new security system around campus.
Over the summer, Public Safety installed 48 cameras in numerous areas of campus. While 28 of the cameras were installed in residential halls, there are also nine tied to blue lights, five in Q-Lot and six in the Miller Center.
According to Public Safety's security coordinator Jennifer Furan, four more will be installed at the Recreation Center in the next week.
The decision to install cameras around campus came into action when the Student Government Association brought it forward as an issue.
"The first $150,000 allocated to the project was appropriated to the department after an initiative brought forward by the student government," Furan said.
Furan said the initial money was put toward the nine blue light cameras and the infrastructure, which includes the servers and software. The money was also used to tie in the Q-Lot cameras with the new system.
The funding for the other cameras around campus comes from each individual department.
"It's the university's camera system," Furan said. "We are just maintaining it. Each department pays for its own cameras."
Furan said she believes the cameras will assist as well as benefit the campus community.
"It all provides additional support for the code (of conduct)," Furan said. "It helps the staff of residential halls and assists with safety for us."
Public Safety can watch the video footage at the dispatch desk, where a screen displays the view of 12 cameras at a time, Furan said. The campus is under 24-hour surveillance, although there is not always someone physically sitting and watching the cameras.
Third-year student Katie Pickett said she had mixed feelings about the installation of the cameras.
"I don't understand why they couldn't put the cameras up sooner," said Pickett, 21. "How many assaults had to happen before they put them up?"
Although Pickett said she was outraged about how long it took for the cameras to be around, she said she also felt some relief.
"I'm just glad they finally came to their senses and realized that cameras are going to be benefitting students," Pickett said. "Hopefully it
decreases the number of assaults happening on campus."
Over the summer, Public Safety installed 48 cameras in numerous areas of campus. While 28 of the cameras were installed in residential halls, there are also nine tied to blue lights, five in Q-Lot and six in the Miller Center.
According to Public Safety's security coordinator Jennifer Furan, four more will be installed at the Recreation Center in the next week.
The decision to install cameras around campus came into action when the Student Government Association brought it forward as an issue.
"The first $150,000 allocated to the project was appropriated to the department after an initiative brought forward by the student government," Furan said.
Furan said the initial money was put toward the nine blue light cameras and the infrastructure, which includes the servers and software. The money was also used to tie in the Q-Lot cameras with the new system.
The funding for the other cameras around campus comes from each individual department.
"It's the university's camera system," Furan said. "We are just maintaining it. Each department pays for its own cameras."
Furan said she believes the cameras will assist as well as benefit the campus community.
"It all provides additional support for the code (of conduct)," Furan said. "It helps the staff of residential halls and assists with safety for us."
Public Safety can watch the video footage at the dispatch desk, where a screen displays the view of 12 cameras at a time, Furan said. The campus is under 24-hour surveillance, although there is not always someone physically sitting and watching the cameras.
Third-year student Katie Pickett said she had mixed feelings about the installation of the cameras.
"I don't understand why they couldn't put the cameras up sooner," said Pickett, 21. "How many assaults had to happen before they put them up?"
Although Pickett said she was outraged about how long it took for the cameras to be around, she said she also felt some relief.
"I'm just glad they finally came to their senses and realized that cameras are going to be benefitting students," Pickett said. "Hopefully it
decreases the number of assaults happening on campus."