California State University, Northridge
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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issue NEWS University Corporation hosts home-buying seminar p. 5
OPInion Has the Matador statue finally brought pride to CSUN? p. 6
Do you know who is
watching you?
Sports Freshman Casey Hinger plays vocal leader for women’s volleyball p. 8 Anthony Carpio daily sundial
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Scan this QR code on your smart phone to view a video from Sunday’s AIDS Walk Los Angeles
Volume 53 Issue 30 • A financially Independent student newspaper
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urveillance cameras installed throughout the university are being used to deter crime and theft, according to multiple sources on campus. The Oviatt Library and the University Student Union (USU) both have numerous cameras installed, but it is unclear whether the rest of the university is similarly watched. When asked if there are any known surveillance cameras installed in university buildings, CSUN spokeswoman Carmen Ramos Chandler said she could not recall ever seeing a permanent camera installed on campus. The surveillance camera used to catch the CSUN pro-
fessor accused of urinating on a colleagues door last semester was temporary, installed after suspicion about a potential culprit increased, Chandler said. It was taken down after law enforcement had the footage they needed. The USU has the most surveillance cameras on campus, with approximately 40 installed throughout the facility, said Jason Wang, associate executive director. “We put cameras up initially to deter theft, damage and vandalism,” Wang said. “We want (the USU) to be safe, (for) people to feel safe, so we think having a sign out that says you’re under surveillance might help people make better choices.” Legally, signs are not required to tell people they are in the presence of surveillance cameras if those cameras are
installed in a public area, said Melanie Williams, business law department chair. “You have no expectation of privacy normally if you’re in a normal public place,” Williams said. “There would be no particular limitations that apply to a public institution or an educational institution that wouldn’t apply to any other institution or place of business.” Although signs are not required, Wang said the USU created its own guidelines, including signs near entrances that tell visitors the area is subject to video recording and recorded video will be kept for 14 days. “We consulted with an attorney and our legal counsel for the student union, and decided it was the best practice,” he said. The Oviatt Library, which has approximately 30 cameras
installed, has similar guidelines to the USU with the exception of having signs, said Marianne Afifi, library associate dean. “We do not believe that we need to tell students,” she said. “However, we are not hiding the fact that they are there. Anyone who looks up can see them.” Like in the USU, cameras installed in the Oviatt are used to prevent crime and ensure the employees’ safety, Afifi said. They’re used “to ensure the protection of state property in the event of theft and for the security of our users and employees,” she said. When asked about the cost of the cameras, both Wang and Afifi had rough estimates. Wang had no figures for the cost of cameras in the USU, but provided the costs for the cameras being installed in the new student recreation center.
Surveillance cameras for the new facility were estimated at $140,222, according to the Jan. 15, 2009 budget. Afifi provided no figures for the cost of the cameras in the Oviatt, but explained the cost fluctuates. “We have a service contract and that varies by how often the company has to come out and service the system,” she said. Provided the surveillance cameras being installed in the new student recreation center cost more than $100,000, it would be difficult to determine how much it would cost the entire university to install cameras on every building on campus, Williams said. “That would be enormously costly at a place like this,” Williams said. “I can’t imagine that (surveillance cameras) would be worth the money being spent.”
Late night walks
Areas off-campus pose greater danger to students Madison Kaufmann daily sundial
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Charlie Kaijo / Contributor
Ida Slapia, Kay Chingona, Miso Horny of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders come to show their support at the 27th annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles event. “We’d like to bring awareness to HIV and AIDS and we’d also like to bring awareness to the stigma of HIV and AIDS,” Kay Chingona said. See p. 4 for more photos of the event.
hen walking to her car a block and a half away from campus at night, Angela Igrisan, public administration graduate student, fears she will be taken by surprise if someone were to attack her. Igrisan said she is always aware and makes sure to look at the people around her and take note of their height and speed of walk.
“If I was attacked I would first look at the person to get a description and then run,” said Igrisan. There have been 64 crimes within a mile of campus from Aug. 29 to Oct. 17, according to the LAPD crime map. While walking on or off campus at night, Christina Villalobos, CSUN police spokeswoman, suggested students not talk on their cell phones, listen to music through headphones and not walk in dark or unfamiliar areas. “Sometimes when you get involved in a conversation
you may start to tune out things and not be aware of your surroundings,” Villalobos said. Sgt. Jose Torres of the Devonshire community relations department said to have your “head on a swivel,” meaning look around and be aware of your surroundings. Public administration major Megan Kuss, 26, lives a few blocks away from campus and walks home by herself at night. Kuss said she doesn’t
See safety, page 5