MSC: is it really safe?
Katie Collins
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
Morrisville State College is a small school. But like other colleges, it has some issues. Every now and then there is a student who breaks the rules or vandalizes college property. With modern technology, the college is able to catch some of the perpetrators and keep the students safe.
One of the most used safety devices on campus are surveillance cameras. MSC's Chief of Police, Enrico D'Alessandro said cameras throughout campus have been 100 percent successful. "Cameras have made the tougher jobs easier," he said.
The cameras run on electricity with battery back-ups. They are always on, D'Alessandro said, but because of a lack of man power there is not an officer constantly watching them.
If state money allowed, D'Alessandro said he would like more officers, office space and interview rooms. "I would take whatever I can get because it is for the safety of the campus and individual students."
According to MSC's Annual Security Report there are not a lot of violent crimes on campus. In 2007 there were five forcible sex offenses, four cases of burglary in the residence halls, and three cases of robbery on public property. In 2007 there were more incidents involving drug and alcohol than anything else.
The State University Police are the second largest police organization in the state. When the university police are fully staffed there are 10 officers. D'Alessandro said there is not a lot of crime at MSC because, "we deal with the crime here because we are a state institution." D'Alessandro said students' parents "expect safety" because they pay taxes.
"Everything revolves around the students' safety. The officers are here because the students are here," D'Alessandro said.
Officers rely on both cameras and witnesses during an incident. "I want it all. Nothing is used more than anything else," D'Alessandro said.
There are cameras at the entrances of all dorms, but the number of cameras throughout campus depends on the amount of state money available. There are some locations that do not have cameras. To make up for their absence, there may be emergency blue lights, which are considered to be the "old standby," because today students have cell phones.
One of the most used safety devices on campus are surveillance cameras. MSC's Chief of Police, Enrico D'Alessandro said cameras throughout campus have been 100 percent successful. "Cameras have made the tougher jobs easier," he said.
The cameras run on electricity with battery back-ups. They are always on, D'Alessandro said, but because of a lack of man power there is not an officer constantly watching them.
If state money allowed, D'Alessandro said he would like more officers, office space and interview rooms. "I would take whatever I can get because it is for the safety of the campus and individual students."
According to MSC's Annual Security Report there are not a lot of violent crimes on campus. In 2007 there were five forcible sex offenses, four cases of burglary in the residence halls, and three cases of robbery on public property. In 2007 there were more incidents involving drug and alcohol than anything else.
The State University Police are the second largest police organization in the state. When the university police are fully staffed there are 10 officers. D'Alessandro said there is not a lot of crime at MSC because, "we deal with the crime here because we are a state institution." D'Alessandro said students' parents "expect safety" because they pay taxes.
"Everything revolves around the students' safety. The officers are here because the students are here," D'Alessandro said.
Officers rely on both cameras and witnesses during an incident. "I want it all. Nothing is used more than anything else," D'Alessandro said.
There are cameras at the entrances of all dorms, but the number of cameras throughout campus depends on the amount of state money available. There are some locations that do not have cameras. To make up for their absence, there may be emergency blue lights, which are considered to be the "old standby," because today students have cell phones.