2008 Woodie Awards
Illusion of Safety on Campus
Inoperable security
Chris Haire
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
The legitimacy of Fullerton College's camera system has been put into question, following an incident where a student, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that someone stuck a camera- phone under a library restroom stall she was occupying.
After the incident occurred the student spoke to Sgt. James
McKamy of Campus Safety about checking cameras near the restroom, on the upper level of the library.
"I realized that there were actually a couple of cameras," the
student said. "McKamy told me he would take a look [at the cameras] and if he found anything he would give me a call."
According to Campus Safety, none of the cameras in the library were able to capture anyone running out of the restroom.
When asked about the cameras near the upstairs restroom,
Emilio Perez, director of Campus Safety, said that there are no cameras in that area. However, there is a camera situated on the east side of the second floor, where the restroom is located.
"There is a camera in that area, and I believe it faces south," said Nilo Niccolai, director of Academic Computing Technologies.
Though the restroom is south of the camera, according to Perez, the camera is not focused in that area.
Despite the location of the camera, McKamy told the student he looked not only at the camera
upstairs, but also at the camera facing the main entrance of the library. However, according to the student, Vice President of Student Services Toni DuBois had a conversation with Campus Safety in which she was told those cameras had not been working since summer.
Perez refused to release the number of cameras on campus, or which ones may not be working. According to Niccolai, there are thirty-plus cameras on campus and the ones most likely to not be working are the ones in the library, due to the construction of the 400 building.
The 400 building once held all the software and infrastructure for the school's security system, including the cameras' software. With the 400 building being torn down, FC had to find other locations for the software.
There is also a difference of opinion as to the purpose of the
cameras. Perez believes the cameras main purpose is not to solve crimes, but to prevent them from happening.
This would explain why Perez said that the camera on the second floor of the library is not focused on the area around the restroom.
"We use the cameras as a preventative source, and it has enabled us to prevent major incidents from occurring," Perez said.
According to Niccolai, the cameras are mainly in place to
protect technology and other materials.Since the student, nor the cameras saw what the suspects looked like, according to Perez, there was not enough information to go forward with the investigation.
After the incident occurred the student spoke to Sgt. James
McKamy of Campus Safety about checking cameras near the restroom, on the upper level of the library.
"I realized that there were actually a couple of cameras," the
student said. "McKamy told me he would take a look [at the cameras] and if he found anything he would give me a call."
According to Campus Safety, none of the cameras in the library were able to capture anyone running out of the restroom.
When asked about the cameras near the upstairs restroom,
Emilio Perez, director of Campus Safety, said that there are no cameras in that area. However, there is a camera situated on the east side of the second floor, where the restroom is located.
"There is a camera in that area, and I believe it faces south," said Nilo Niccolai, director of Academic Computing Technologies.
Though the restroom is south of the camera, according to Perez, the camera is not focused in that area.
Despite the location of the camera, McKamy told the student he looked not only at the camera
upstairs, but also at the camera facing the main entrance of the library. However, according to the student, Vice President of Student Services Toni DuBois had a conversation with Campus Safety in which she was told those cameras had not been working since summer.
Perez refused to release the number of cameras on campus, or which ones may not be working. According to Niccolai, there are thirty-plus cameras on campus and the ones most likely to not be working are the ones in the library, due to the construction of the 400 building.
The 400 building once held all the software and infrastructure for the school's security system, including the cameras' software. With the 400 building being torn down, FC had to find other locations for the software.
There is also a difference of opinion as to the purpose of the
cameras. Perez believes the cameras main purpose is not to solve crimes, but to prevent them from happening.
This would explain why Perez said that the camera on the second floor of the library is not focused on the area around the restroom.
"We use the cameras as a preventative source, and it has enabled us to prevent major incidents from occurring," Perez said.
According to Niccolai, the cameras are mainly in place to
protect technology and other materials.Since the student, nor the cameras saw what the suspects looked like, according to Perez, there was not enough information to go forward with the investigation.
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