A request for a hearing with the Department of Education; an increased number of surveillance cameras on campus; and the ongoing process of changing locks and re-keying doors were some of the updates provided to campus during two safety forums that took place at the Student Center last week.
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SAFETY UPDATE: Don Loppnow, EMU's provost and
executive vice president, provides a campus safety
and security update during an open campus forum in
the Student Center Jan. 28. Another forum took place
Jan. 31, with each drawing crowds of approximately
50 persons. |
Don Loppnow, EMU's provost and executive vice president, who hosted the Jan. 28 and 31 forums, told the audience that the University submitted a full response to the U.S. Department of Education's findings relative to EMU's handling of the Laura Dickinson case. The University has requested an informal meeting with the DOE at the end of this month. Based on that meeting, the University will decide whether to pursue a formal hearing, Loppnow said.
The University is being fined $357,500 for Clery Act violations that took place after Dickinson's death, which was ruled a homicide.
"We would go, not to change the findings, but get greater clarity on the process and how they arrived at the (fine) dollar figure," Loppnow said during a message he provided at both forums. "It is a significantly higher dollar figure than any previous institution has been fined (under the Clery Act)."
Loppnow stressed the University does not challenge the findings, but wants to let the DOE know what campus safety updates have occurred since.
Some of these include:
- Installation of more than 200 security cameras have been installed — inside and out — at the residence halls and academic buildings. In addition, card readers have been installed to use "swipe" access cards to 11 residence halls, including The Village and the First-Year Center.
"The advantage of a swipe card system is it's just a matter of reprogramming the computer and issuing a new card," Loppnow said. "If a key is lost, we have to replace the key and change the lock."
In the case of faculty office doors, approximately $1 million has been spent to replace 5,500 locks in academic buildings, Loppnow said. The decision to change another 5,500 locks will be determined after The TransSystems Corporation conducts a campus safety and security audit. The audit includes, but is not limited to: building access, key management, access control, video surveillance, exterior lighting, employee ID system, intrusion detection systems, a local monitoring system, and safety and security levels. Audit results are expected sometime in March.
- The "Gotcha" program (EMU employees check to see whether students locked their doors to their rooms) and SEEUS patrols have been stepped up;
- Housing has added safety programs;
- The number of contracted security employees have been increased and hours expanded;
- Fifty-eight emergency assistance stations have been installed;
- The "Nightwatch" hours have been expanded until 4 a.m. Under "Nightwatch," student workers man entrances to residence halls and keep an eye out for those persons who do not look like they belong in the residence halls.
- More than 800 faculty and staff have received safety booklets entitled "Keeping Yourself and Your Classroom Safe."
"The booklet provides guidelines for faculty and staff to keep classrooms and labs safe. This has increased importance with the numerous weekend and evening classes on campus," Loppnow said.
- The University's Crisis Management Plan is being updated, with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of different offices on campus.
- John Donegan, assistant vice president for facilities, announced the physical plant is exploring a new location and facilities for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) on campus, and has hired Hooker DeJong, a Muskegon-based architectural firm, to evaluate. Currently, DPS administration works out of Bowen Field House, with officers and dispatchers stationed in offices connected to the parking structure.
"We want to make sure, wherever we relocate it, we locate it in the most appropriate place on campus," Donegan said during the first forum. "That could be a new facility or available space for a retrofit."
- Gregory O'Dell, the new executive director of public safety, took the opportunity to introduce himself to those in the audience. While he has been on campus since his hiring was announced, O'Dell officially starts his new job Feb. 7.
"I've personally been on a patrol ride with every police officer on campus," O'Dell said during the second forum. "I'm going to push for students to look at our Web site. We will post a video on the Web site to show how to use the emergency stations. We will be hosting night meetings in the residence halls."
A number of students, particularly at the second forum, asked safety-related questions. One residence hall administrator asked whether those officers from the private security firm could patrol inside the residence hall at times when the RA isn't actually on duty.
"It seems that they come between 6 and 11 p.m., and I just follow them around," said one student RA. "It might be better if they patrolled at times the RA is not on duty."
Jasmine Stock, an EMU junior, said many students are concerned about what they should do if their ID card is lost or stolen.
"I'm not sure it's publicized as much as it could be," Stock said, after an RA told her that a students need to obtain a new card from the Eagle Card office and then have it signed by the RA to allow the student into the residence hall.
Brian Fitzgerald, associate director of housing, admitted housing could do a better job of advertising that process.
"We can issue you a temporary ID car until you get a replacement," Fitzgerald said.
