|
Volume CXXXIII, Number 10 |
 |
Coffin crime wave
An unusual rash of criminal incidents has prompted students to reconsider the safety of their cars under the Pines. The Coffin Street parking lot was the site of three thefts in the first ten days of November. It is evident that more stringent security measures are needed, and sooner rather than later.
Security concerns are not limited to this particular parking lot. Several of the more remote areas of campus (the Stanwood lot, Pine Street and Harpswell Apartments, and the Stowe Inn, to name a few) are poorly lit and could benefit from increased lighting and patrolling.
Currently, the Farley Field House lot is the only campus parking area with closed circuit television coverage. Security is in the process of upgrading its system to one that will record footage digitally and can be accessed from different network points.
The first cameras have been installed in Druckenmiller Hall, Smith Union, and Sargent Gym in an initial test of the system. In the next year, camera installations are planned for other campus locations, including the Coffin and Stanwood lots and replacements for the old ones at Farley.
Bowdoin has secured necessary funding for the upgrade and has chosen a vendor who will provide the College with new equipment and technology. Security estimates that the system will be completely in place next fall.
Given that Bowdoin employs only 12 security officers who are responsible for both patrol and dispatch, the new camera setup will be an invaluable asset for keeping the campus safe. The tragic incident at Colby in September only makes the need for campus safety more relevant and immediate.
It is our hope that the new monitoring system will be up and running as soon as possible and that the College will heed lighting concerns expressed by members of the Bowdoin community.
For information on sending a letter to the editor, please click here.
|
FastCounter by bCentral |