By David Gordon & Ryan Broderick, News Editor & Editor-at-Large
Students may have noticed the heightened security when swiping into their building, and the more prevalent presence of Public Safety officers in dormitories. John C. O'Malley, the Assistant Director of Public Safety cleared up many misconceptions.
It is University policy that students must carry their ID card with them at all times, swipe into their buildings and leave their card with Resident Safety Representatives (RSRs) if they are visiting another student's building. Over the last few months, O'Malley noted, students have been "piggy backing" into buildings and that there were severe gaps in sign-in sheets.
This has been the main cause for increase in security. Students who have failed to swipe their cards in the presence of a Public Safety Officer have received a summons, and non-compliant RSRs have been dealt with. "RSR is one of the toughest jobs on campus...but it is still a job. Some have been terminated, others have been disciplined, a lot of them have been retrained," O'Malley said.
When asked if the alleged gang rape incident had any effect on the heightened security, O'Malley said, "Well, part of what we observed on our cameras at that time was some violations of the policy of swiping in, but we were on that before that." He did not elaborate as to what parts of protocol were specifically violated.
O'Malley explained that Public Safety's first line of defense, and a student's first line of protection, is the RSR that sits in the booth in the buildings. "If someone brings outsiders in and you don't know who they are and we don't know who they are, you meet them at a party, we need to be sure you're safe, that's why we've increased the enforcement of that rule for your safety right now," he said.
Responding to rumors than an outside audit on Public Safety had recently taken place, O'Malley said that that was false. "Seven years ago a major consulting firm audited the school and said that Hofstra was a model for security for all of Long Island and the Tri State Area… down the road, we will have another company doing an in-depth analysis, and we will take in what they recommend and improve our security system," he said.
For now, students should be on the alert that summonses are still being given to those who fail to swipe. Turnstiles have been added to a number of areas on campus and more may be added in the future. Until that point, Public Safety is trying to enforce policy by disciplining those who do not comply.
A University student uses his ID card to swipe into his residence hall. (Caitlyn Gilvary/The Chronicle)