News-Letter

University officials released a statement on the fifth installment of security upgrades last week, marking continued efforts to implement President Brody's 15-point security action plan.

The statement outlined several improvements, including the completion of the first installation phase of a new closed-circuit surveillance video system on March 28. 24 cameras are in place, and all 32 cameras will be operational within a few weeks.

The update and Thursday's meeting of the Committee on Homewood Security and Safety addressed the implementation of the new "smart" camera surveillance technology, the addition of gates and guardhouses in front of the AMR residence halls, changes in the blue light telephone system and lighting around campus.

Hopkins officials and students on the committee spoke of the importance of the addition of this surveillance technology.

"From our vantage point the system is indeed meeting our expectation in fulfilling the role we planned for it. That is, a technology supplement in support of our security officers on patrol," said Hopkins Director of Security Ron Mullen.

He added, "Hopkins officers now have 'eyes' constantly watching areas that heretofore our officers could only watch periodically during their tours of duty."

"The cameras use behavior-smart software that recognize sixteen behaviors such as falling down, lurking, and arm movements above the head," said Security Council member junior Laura Thrift.

Mullen noted that the student body may not be aware of the cameras' installment. He said, "Students have been 'pleasantly surprised' by the quality of the news camera system, but they thought that it should be publicized a little bit better so that they know what's available."

Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell called the addition of the cameras a "visible sign" of improvement for campus security.

"However, I think it's still too soon to tell what their impact will be," Boswell added.

Another point on the security update detailed a plan to secure the entrances of the AMR complexes with the installation of a gate and guardhouse entrance for each building. Similar systems will be set up inside Wolman and McCoy to secure those as well.

"I believe the modifications to the entrances will be made over the summer, completed by [students'] fall move-in," Mullen said.

Interim Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Adam Falk said that the reevaluation of the entrances to residential complexes is necessary because of the problems that easy access to the residential halls pose.

"We have not been successful with our current system. The problem is that everyone in the dorms lets everybody else in, regardless of if they know who they are," Falk said.

The security update also discussed upgrades that have been made to the blue light phones around campus. The update noted that the project took longer than was expected, due in part to systems that needed rewiring.

"Lighting improvements are being made as quickly as contractor schedules, equipment and supplies permit," added Mullen.

In addition to the upgrades listed in the e-mail, Thrift noted several other potential changes as discussed by the Security Council.

Thrift said that there was discussion over a plan to move the security station from behind Shriver to a larger and more centralized location on campus. She said that this location would serve as a security command center from which the surveillance video technology would be operated.

Thrift also stated that the Council plans to reevaluate ways to make the security escort van service more effective; such as ensuring that areas in which students wait to catch vans are safe and upon dropping students off making sure that vans wait to see that students get inside safely.

"Students needing an escort van will be able to go to an emergency phone that has a camera either on it or within view of it and call for an escort using the chrome button. The monitor would then be able to keep an eye on the students and the location until the escort van arrived. These areas would be clearly marked with signage," Mullen said.

Despite these improvements, Thrift noted several concerns that she still holds for students.

"I think our main problem is communicating what's going on to students," Thrift said.

She hopes that a restructuring of the Security Council, which is to take place through a series of meetings over the summer, will seek to remedy this concern.

"There are going to be two subcommittees of the Security Council formed," said Thrift, "one will focus on communications and the other on community relations."

However, no matter how much communication there is, Thrift is still concerned. "I think the on thing that worries me is students. I see students who continue to make horribly dumb decisions," she said.

Thrift expressed a concern that too many freshmen do not take the orientation security meeting seriously enough.

"In the future they will be done in small groups - where the leaders can see everyone's eyes," Thrift said.

Upon surmising the recent security upgrades, Thrift noted that the changes should have taken place sooner: "I think that this all should have taken place after [Elser's] murder."

Hopkins administrators also continue to search for a replacement for security director Mullen, who is due to leave as soon as a search headed by the central administration hires a replacement.

"In the fall, we expect to have identified the new director of security," Jim McGill, senior vice president for administration, said at the Security Council meeting.

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