SGA legislation last month ignited conversation about campus safety and surveillance.  A resolution passed at the Feb. 5 meeting recommends that outdoor security cameras be placed on RSU’s main parking lots for surveillance purposes.

Renee Morse-Heenan, one of the authors of the resolution, said the resolution is meant to encourage the school to increase campus safety, not encourage unnecessary surveillance.

“Since RSU is a growing residential campus, more surveillance would maintain the safe environment, as well as prove to future students and their parents that safety is a priority here,” she said.

Campus police say the university is already considering bids from vendors to place security cameras on campus, noting that more security is always better. The department will make a funds proposal for cameras in the next few months, said Gary Boergermann, chief of campus police.

Some isolated incidents were credited with inspiring the SGA legislation, which is essentially a recommendation to school officials. There was an accident where a student said she fell outside during the night with no one nearby to help. The student was later assisted by a passing motorist.

Since the resolution has been written and passed, more students have come forward to talk about times when they would have felt more safe knowing that outdoor security cameras were in use.

“This legislation’s intent was to recommend the monitoring of the main parking lots only, not demand it.  If the funding is available, and administration agrees with the recommendation, they may further the scope of the resolution to include more safety measures,” Morse-Heenan said.

The resolution’s primary author, Lindsey Betts, felt that the cameras “are simply wanted for the better of our students and faculty,” and that “more surveillance cameras would benefit the students because they would help to solve minor crimes and offenses.”

RSU senior Cheyanne Keith said the surveillance “is definitely a good idea.”

“What if at night you were walking out alone and something happened to you but nobody was there to help?” she said. “I’d feel a lot safer, especially if I were outside alone, like for a night class.  If there was vandalism, or someone was hurt, it would be good to know what’s going on and people don’t necessarily have that protection now.”

“Not only is there an issue with the safety of our property while we’re in class,” said student Philip Jackson. “But also at night when we get out of class.

“Students need to feel safe.”SGA legislation last month ignited conversation about campus safety and surveillance.  A resolution passed at the Feb. 5 meeting recommends that outdoor security cameras be placed on RSU’s main parking lots for surveillance purposes.

Renee Morse-Heenan, one of the authors of the resolution, said the resolution is meant to encourage the school to increase campus safety, not encourage unnecessary surveillance.

“Since RSU is a growing residential campus, more surveillance would maintain the safe environment, as well as prove to future students and their parents that safety is a priority here,” she said.

Campus police say the university is already considering bids from vendors to place security cameras on campus, noting that more security is always better. The department will make a funds proposal for cameras in the next few months, said Gary Boergermann, chief of campus police.

Some isolated incidents were credited with inspiring the SGA legislation, which is essentially a recommendation to school officials. There was an accident where a student said she fell outside during the night with no one nearby to help. The student was later assisted by a passing motorist.

Since the resolution has been written and passed, more students have come forward to talk about times when they would have felt more safe knowing that outdoor security cameras were in use.

“This legislation’s intent was to recommend the monitoring of the main parking lots only, not demand it.  If the funding is available, and administration agrees with the recommendation, they may further the scope of the resolution to include more safety measures,” Morse-Heenan said.

The resolution’s primary author, Lindsey Betts, felt that the cameras “are simply wanted for the better of our students and faculty,” and that “more surveillance cameras would benefit the students because they would help to solve minor crimes and offenses.”

RSU senior Cheyanne Keith said the surveillance “is definitely a good idea.”

“What if at night you were walking out alone and something happened to you but nobody was there to help?” she said. “I’d feel a lot safer, especially if I were outside alone, like for a night class.  If there was vandalism, or someone was hurt, it would be good to know what’s going on and people don’t necessarily have that protection now.”

“Not only is there an issue with the safety of our property while we’re in class,” said student Philip Jackson. “But also at night when we get out of class.

“Students need to feel safe.”