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news
Security same
after Sept. 11
By Kristen Force
On-line Forty-Niner
Despite considerable
changes in the nation's policies on security, Cal State Long
Beach has made no changes to its procedures involving safety
on campus.
"We were already very diligent and are focused on training
that is consistent and appropriate," said University
Police Capt. Stan Skipworth. "We did evaluate our policies,
but were very pleased with what we are doing and feel that
it is more than adequate."
The university does provide programs intended to help students
feel secure while on campus. The focus is on preventative
measures and education to avoid being a victim.
With a 24-hour patrol on campus, many students feel safe and
are not overly concerned with their well being at school.
"I feel fine because there are always a lot of cop cars
around," said Kelli Velez, a freshman kinesiology major.
"I haven't seen any problems on campus."
Part of the responsibility of maintaining a safe campus lies
with students themselves, Skipworth emphasized. Keeping doors
locked, not leaving valuables around and an awareness of the
surrounding environment is important.
Rita Cortez, a sophomore theater major, said some problems
in the residence halls seem to get ignored.
"Most of the main doors are propped open during the day
[in the dorms] and it is very easy for anyone to walk in that
wants to," Cortez said. "I think the campus is pretty
safe though. No one has ever approached me or made me feel
uncomfortable."
The residence halls take precautions to keep students safe
in the place that becomes their home for the year: their dorm
room.
The main doors to each residence hall are locked at all times
and only residents are issued a key to their specific building.
Security screens have been installed in all first floor windows,
according to Stan Olin, director of Housing and Residence
Life.
"We encourage students to be safe and make sure they
keep their doors and windows locked, but it gets hot or they
get in a hurry and sometimes they forget," Olin said.
"The security screens are an extra measure to prevent
burglaries."
No security guards are hired for the residence halls specifically,
but University Police patrol the area and resident advisers
watch each floor and routinely check the halls.
Efforts to inform students about safety precautions and awareness
on campus include a carpool service at night, self-defense
classes, and numerous seminars throughout the semester, which
can be found on the University Police Web site at
www.csulb.edu/police.
The campus police are able to reach the most students through
the class University 100, which is taught by officers for
freshmen and new students to the campus, said Sgt. Bonnie
Myers, crime prevention programs organizer.
"Students learn all about the programs we offer in our
100 class," Myers said."Everything is also posted
on our Web site so that students can go at any time and find
programs and statistics about what is happening on or around
campus."
Students also have the opportunity to get involved if they
desire. The Community Service Officer program is a part-time
job assisting police on calls. Their main responsibility is
the Night Escort Program, a service that takes students to
their vehicle or residence hall after dark.
"We mostly get criminal justice majors for the escort
program," Skipworth said.""But anyone can apply
and it can be a very good experience."
Most importantly, officers stress, it is up to the community
to create a safe environment.
"It is the cooperation of the public that helps us the
most," Skipworth said.""They are our eyes and
ears on a daily basis and we rely heavily on them to notice
problems in the area."
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