Security still needs improvement

According to an article published online on March 21, 2005 by the Montana Kaimin, “Jeanne Cleary was raped and murdered in her Lehigh University dorm room in 1986. Cleary’s death prompted the United States to pass what is now known as the Cleary Act of 1990, which requires colleges and universities to report all crime statistics to the FBI and inform students of the threat of being victimized on campuses.”

Schaffner said, “Jeanne Cleary, who was raped and killed at Lehigh University a number of years ago has sparked our reporting standards for the nation as an academic institution with the Cleary Act. That all occurred because someone left a door open. Lehigh is not a very crime ridden place but unfortunately, it happened and if the residential population continues to prop doors, it could conceivably happen here. That’s something I certainly don’t want to see happen here at Cabrini College.”

But, despite efforts by public safety to make the dorms a safer place, it can be asked if they are really achieving their goal in keeping the dorms safe. Since 2002, theft/larceny offenses have risen from 23 in 2002 to 52 in 2004. Vandalism offenses have risen from 71 in 2002 to 149 in 2004.

One freshman that wished to remain anonymous said, “The security could be better because things get broken by people who don’t live in our dorm.”

According to the Residence Life information & policies section of the 04-05 Cabrini College student handbook, “Students are strongly cautioned against allowing unknown individuals into a hall at the time of their own entry or exit, and are prohibited from propping exteri- or doors or exits in an effort to circumvent the card access system. Such behavior compromises the security of all building residents and is considered exceptionally dangerous behavior in residential community.”

Students are “strongly cautioned” against letting people into the building. Junior graphic design major Rebecca Simeone said, “Just the front door is monitored in the Cabrini Apartment Complex, not the back door. So, I do know people come in the back door. Public safety does not check id’s or have anyone sitting at that backdoor to monitor people coming in.”

Fiona Bride, an exercise science and health promotion major, said, “There is a public safety officer at the front entrance. But downstairs, there is a backdoor and even though it’s monitored, people still come in and out.”

Therefore, a reporter believes the student body is also to blame for the current state of security that the school is in. From propping doors to letting people in through the back door, a reporter feels it is evident there is more to keeping the dorms safe than just pointing the finger at Public Safety.

“So, if a student sees somebody propping a door, if a student sees somebody in the building that they know doesn’t belong there and is not escorted by somebody that belongs there, then they should really call Public Safety and let us know so that we can come down and make sure that the rules are being followed and everybody’s safe,” Schaffner said.

Schaffner also had one last message to the Cabrini College community, “If you belong in the building, that’s fine. If you want to have a guest, that’s fine. But do it the right way and that way, it could save your neighbor.”