Eastern Michigan University will have a national security
consulting firm conduct a safety audit of campus in the
near future. In addition, three suspects were arrested
in connection with thefts of personal property in Phelps
Hall that occurred Nov. 11.
These new developments were made public during the first
of two safety and security meetings recently conducted
by EMU officials. The first forum took place in the Student
Center Ballroom Nov. 13 and the second in the Student Center
Nov. 15.
 |
SEEKING SAFETY: Don Loppnow, executive
vice president of Eastern Michigan
University,
makes a point during a safety
and security forum
that took place in the
Student Center Ballroom
Nov. 13.
Loppnow and other officials described
what has been done to increase safety and
security on campus. |
"When we responded to the DOE's (Department of Education)
investigation and aftermath of Laura Dickinson's death,
one of the things we assured the DOE we would do is talk
to the campus about safety and security," Don Loppnow,
executive vice president of EMU, said to a crowd of approximately
40, including a smattering of students, during the first
forum.
Dickinson was killed in her residence hall room last December
and EMU was criticized for its handling of the case by
the DOE and Butzel Long, a law firm hired by the EMU Board
of Regents to investigate the University's handling of
the case.
Janice Stroh, vice president for business and finance,
reported that The TranSystems Corporation would be on campus
Nov. 19 to conduct a safety and security audit. According
to Stroh, areas the audit will, among others, include are:
building access, key management, access control, video
surveillance, exterior lighting, employee ID system, intrusion
detection systems, local monitoring system, and safety
and security levels.
"The audit is very, very broad. I anticipate the audit
will be completed with results by March (2008)," said Stroh,
who mentioned the firm had previously conducted safety
and security audits for Central Michigan University, Cornell,
Columbia and the University of Virginia.
In addition, Stroh outlined steps EMU has taken relative
to a 16-point safety plan the University developed. These
include:
- Place DPS under the vice president for business and finance.
Previously, having DPS under Student Affairs created a
conflict of interest since housing is under the auspices
of Student Affairs.
- A search is currently underway for an executive director
of public safety.
- DPS has moved from its temporary space in a residence
hall. Parking staff is currently housed in Bowen and
public safety officers are situated in the parking structure
offices near the Bowen parking lot.
"We're looking to find a facility. We will either renovate
space already on campus or build a new facility," Stroh
said.
- SEEUS patrols have increased in number and coverage has
been expanded to seven days a week. SEEUS is a student
escort service that operates in the evenings and the wee
hours of the morning.
- Additional security guards have been hired on a temporary
basis to complement coverage for DPS staff in residence
halls and academic buildings. During October and November,
there were a rash of thefts in some of the residence
halls.
- A "Gotcha" Program was expanded in the residence
halls. Housing and public safety staff check residence
hall doors to see whether they are locked. If rooms are
unlocked and unoccupied, staff lock the door and put
a card on the door reminding residents to lock their
doors when they are not present.
- Approximately 60 EMU administrators and staff received
Clery Act training in August. Under the federal law,
the University is mandated to report crimes on campus
and submit an annual security report. This report was
posted online in October, Stroh said. In addition, DPS
is required to send out timely warnings about crimes
that present an immediate danger to campus.
- A campus key policy was updated to limit the number of
keys issued to contractors. A key inventory also is being
conducted.
- Outside campus lighting is examined every Sunday to determine
where lights need to be replaced or upgraded. Findings
are forwarded to the physical plant.
Bob Heighes, EMU's interim DPS police chief, reported
that the department had resolved a case of theft that took
place in Phelps Hall Nov. 11. In the incident, five individuals
were involved in stealing a computer, clothes, shoes and
DVDs. Three were arrested based on security camera video
and checking access card records.
"At this time, we have arrested three of the five people
involved in the incident," Heighes said. "We are charging
them. We have located the property and will return it to
the students."
Heighes said one of those arrested told DPS that a key
to the room had been left in the door lock. The suspect
admitted he took the key in October and waited for the
right opportunity, Heighes said.
"The University has all this technology, but it comes
down to human error," Heighes said. "If the key isn't left
in the door, the burglary wouldn't have occurred."
"We're students and we're irresponsible," Amy Hall, a
senior from Marysville, said somewhat facetiously. "Students
who care come to the meetings. Students who don't care
are getting things stolen. I would rather have somebody
punch in a door or break a window to steal a laptop rather
than go through an unlocked door."
"Bottom line, there is institutional responsibility," said
Denise Reiling, a professor of sociology and director of
institutional assessment. "But there has to be student
responsibility, right?"
Reiling said students have to stop letting others "tailgate," a
practice in which an individual without access to a building
follows in another student who has unlocked the door.
