Lack of Security Cameras on UCM Campus Causes Concern Among Students, Officers
Courtney Hudson: Muleskinner
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
After many crimes that have occurred on college campuses around the country, safety may have once again been brought to the forefront.
Safety and security seem to be a priority for many universities, so what about UCM?
According to the Public Safety Web site, the University of Central Missouri employs 18 trained, state-certified, police officers. Public Safety has officers on duty 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
In addition, there are eight uniformed student employees known as the Student Assistant Foot Patrol and Escort (SAFE) Team. SAFE staff members are available seven nights a week, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Despite the many University employees trying to prevent crime, there are still crimes being committed on and around campus. Detective Sgt. Matt Vessar said he didn't believe problems on campus had increased.
"We actually had fewer arrests last year than the previous year," Vessar said. "In 2006, we had 203 arrests and in 2007, we had 195."
Chief Bob Ahring, director of the Department of Public Safety, said he also believed the UCM campus was a safe place.
"I think people are in tune with their surroundings," Ahring said. "I think they know they can come to us."
Even with arrests down from previous years, the UCM campus can be a lot of ground to cover. It consists of 1,240 acres, 104 buildings and 4 million square feet of building space.
Something that might be able to help with covering that ground is installing cameras on campus. There are no security cameras anywhere on campus, Ahring said.
"We have looked into getting security cameras," Ahring said. "I think it would be very helpful."
Katlyn Johnson, sophomore communication major, said she thinks not having cameras is dangerous and a little crazy.
"I had no idea there were no cameras on campus," Johnson said. "That kind of scares me."
Why haven't cameras been purchased? Ahring said that cameras had been part of a plan for the past three years, but there was no budget for them. In addition, another problem is with what would happen, once the cameras were installed.
Safety and security seem to be a priority for many universities, so what about UCM?
According to the Public Safety Web site, the University of Central Missouri employs 18 trained, state-certified, police officers. Public Safety has officers on duty 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
In addition, there are eight uniformed student employees known as the Student Assistant Foot Patrol and Escort (SAFE) Team. SAFE staff members are available seven nights a week, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Despite the many University employees trying to prevent crime, there are still crimes being committed on and around campus. Detective Sgt. Matt Vessar said he didn't believe problems on campus had increased.
"We actually had fewer arrests last year than the previous year," Vessar said. "In 2006, we had 203 arrests and in 2007, we had 195."
Chief Bob Ahring, director of the Department of Public Safety, said he also believed the UCM campus was a safe place.
"I think people are in tune with their surroundings," Ahring said. "I think they know they can come to us."
Even with arrests down from previous years, the UCM campus can be a lot of ground to cover. It consists of 1,240 acres, 104 buildings and 4 million square feet of building space.
Something that might be able to help with covering that ground is installing cameras on campus. There are no security cameras anywhere on campus, Ahring said.
"We have looked into getting security cameras," Ahring said. "I think it would be very helpful."
Katlyn Johnson, sophomore communication major, said she thinks not having cameras is dangerous and a little crazy.
"I had no idea there were no cameras on campus," Johnson said. "That kind of scares me."
Why haven't cameras been purchased? Ahring said that cameras had been part of a plan for the past three years, but there was no budget for them. In addition, another problem is with what would happen, once the cameras were installed.
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