Recession cuts campus safety funding and services

With the economy in a recession, lack of funding limits Campus Police, leaving it up to UNCA students to help with campus security, Campus Police Chief Steve Lewis said.

“On the upside, students have really started reporting more when they see something sketchy,” said Campus Police Detective Sgt. B.J. Bayne.

The state allocated funds to hire an emergency management coordinator, Sylvia Farrington. So far, Farrington has fixed the emergency text messaging system and initiated installation of sirens on campus, according to Lewis.

“My understanding on the sirens is that the hope is to have that installation complete by the second or third week of November,” he said. “We’re also going to include an active shooter table-top exercise in January, and a full scale exercise sometime after graduation.”

According to Lewis, these exercises cost nearly $20,000 and involve local hospitals, fire safety and other emergency personnel.

“This is to identify our weaknesses and build upon them for next time something happens,” he said. “It’s my understanding that this is $18,000 to 20,000 worth of services that general administration is paying for and we don’t have to.”

Due to the economic recession, lack of funds limit Campus Police service, leaving it up to students to help with campus security, Lewis said.

Last semester, a thief broke into Zageir and Zeis Halls and stole various items, Bayne said.

“Me and the chief both alternated sleeping in the building trying to catch this person,” she said. “We even had housekeeping keep an eye out.”

Police charged Jamaal Connelly, a 27-year-old from Winstopn-Salem, with several counts of larceny. Connelly is a repeat offender with previous convictions of larceny and arson, according to Mecklenberg County records. One security guard locks up academic buildings every night, Lewis said.

“It’s impossible for one person to do a thorough check of the buildings,” he said. “Sometimes, if it isn’t a busy night, some of the officers will help him out.”

The security guard checks each room briefly as he makes his rounds, Lewis said.

“It’s surprising to me that various extra security measures weren’t in effect,” said Melissa Baker, a former adjunct professor at UNCA. “I am also surprised there aren’t security cameras on campus.”

Lack of funding prevents UNCA from purchasing security cameras, and many students said it’s an invasion of privacy, Lewis said.

“It seems to me that security cameras would save money on replacing stolen equipment,” Baker said. “Plus, they’re a long-term investment.”

Placing security cameras at major entrances would benefit police and residents, Lewis said.

“In my mind, being able to go back in the event that something happened, instead of continuously monitoring, would be useful,” he said. “I see no cameras versus exterior only cameras as certainly less intrusive than interior cameras.”

Many students said they do not see cameras as intrusive, but some consider them pointless.

“I personally wouldn’t mind it if there were security cameras in place,” said Neal Beckett, former resident assistant at UNCA. “I don’t think it would change what someone was going to do.”

Other than substance abuse, larceny is the most common crime on campus, Lewis said.

“Larceny cases are mostly unsolvable,” Bayne said. “Most students don’t know the serial numbers of what is stolen, making it harder to find.”

Most of the thefts on campus are crimes of opportunity, according to Lewis.

“Residents leave their rooms unlocked or open all the time,” Beckett said. “So if someone is walking by and sees something they want they can just take it.”

Students should use common sense when leaving their rooms, Bayne said.

Most reports of theft occur in Founders Hall, according to UNCA crime logs.

“Founders and Mills are the most active of the resident halls,” Lewis said. “Because of that, you tend to see more cases in those areas.”

Security cameras cost more than $90,000, Lewis said.

“If it was in our power, and we could afford it, I would like to place cameras in front of the front doors to the dorms,” he said. “But that decision is for someone in a higher position.”

With better finances, Campus Police could hire another person to help secure buildings, Lewis said.

“For now, it’s the students who can be a big help,” Bayne said. “Using common sense with their belongings and locking their stuff up goes a long way.”

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