Safe And Sound

Are CCNY campus security guards keeping students safe-or overstepping their power? That's the crux of an ongoing discussion on campus.Security officers stand or sit at just about every entrance to City College. The majority of students happily show their I.D. cards before entering a building. For the most part, security officers and students seem to respect to one another, but at other times, the two groups have gotten into heated arguments.Some students feel that the security officers take their jobs a little too seriously. Justin Arvelo says he saw someone walk into the NAC Cohen library on a cell phone and the security guard immediately gave the student a ticket. "If the person just walked into the library, and he's given a ticket, that's ridiculous!" says Arvelo. "The security should've let him go with a warning."Security officials believe that CCNY students may not understand what it takes to ensure the safety of our school. According to Douglas M. White, deputy director of the public safety department at CCNY, an increase in security was triggered because of past incidents like the shooting spree at Virginia Tech several years ago. Last year's well-publicized computer theft-which set off a widespread security breach-also caused public safety to tighten up.Currently about 70 officers patrol the school grounds, and security is a 24-hour job. To help students understand who does what, White explains that CCNY guards are organized by three levels: Contract Security Guards, who cannot make arrestsCampus Security Assistants, who wear light blue shirts and dark blue pantsCampus Peace Officers, who wear dark blue uniforms, carry cuffs, pepper mace and ASP batonsThese public safety officers are in place to protect against the kinds of crimes detailed under the Clery Act, which demands that all colleges report crimes committed on or near campus.  Our security office has a Clery Report binder, which contains all of the crimes handled by CCNY security. Some of these incidents include, aggravated assault, burglary, grand larceny, and criminal trespassing. At this writing, the most recent crime committed was an assault in the NAC building on March 11, 2011.White says he is also very serious about safety off campus. "Any crimes taking place in the vicinity of CCNY must be handled by our security first as well as the police who may also be contacted," says White. The CCNY office of public safety website notes that on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at approximately 9:10 pm, in the vicinity of Broadway and West 140th Street, a suspect approached a female victim inside of a laundry room, threw her to the ground and simulated the possession of a knife before sexually assaulting her.  The victim was taken to a local area hospital in stable condition.
 Later, the same suspect 
followed a woman into an elevator at 148^th and Broadway, grabbed her from behind and threw her to the ground while punching her in the face. The victim sustained minor injuries."We are being more vigilant because it is important to us to ensure the safety of this school and its students," White says.Students in the know are grateful to have added public safety measures in place.  "I used to be a security guard here," says a CCNY student who asked to remain anonymous. "So I know that we have many tasks to do."