By Taylor Paraboschi, Staff Writer
In an effort to increase security on and around campus, Public Safety has announced its plan to build a new Public Safety Post on the corner of Lawrence St. and Fulton Ave., located across from a couple of the popular off-campus bars. The new post will provide University students with easy access to Public Safety Officers in the event of an emergency. "The plan is to have it staffed on busy nights, giving students a place to contact us if they need to," said Karen O'Callaghan, Director of Public Safety.
O'Callaghan is hoping that this new project will be up and running within the next month, allowing the PSOs to have increased visibility, making sure more students arrive back on campus safely. "This booth will be the eyes and ears for public safety," she said.
In addition to the new booth being staffed on busy weekends, O'Callaghan mentioned the possibility of having the University shuttle drive past the bars on their way back from the Mineola and Hempstead train runs, offering rides home to students on their way back to campus.
While most University students are in support of this new booth, there is some concern that this new mode of transportation will encourage students to drink more.
"It's good in the sense it shows care for students, but bad in the sense it encourages drinking," said senior Glenn Sardelli. Sardelli worries that with the addition of the shuttle, students will have less of a deterrent when it comes to curbing their drinking. "Sure having a closer public safety building is fantastic, being able to call them for rides is great. But the addition of a shuttle bus means it will become the ‘party' bus of Hofstra."
First year graduate student Laura Rossano agrees, saying that while it's a great idea to have Public Safety closer to the students, the shuttle bus might be too much. "I do think it is a good idea for public safety to be there, although the shuttle bus, I don't think I support that. To me it's like ‘hey guys drink as much as you want! The shuttle's coming."
Rossano added that while she doesn't support the shuttle, she supports the idea of some type of authority being nearby. "I do think it is a good idea to have public safety there though because it is dangerous and it is a wise decision. If someone in a worst case scenario needed a ride then they could help with that."
Safety is a big concern for students when walking home from the local bars late at night and the presence of Public Safety may help provide a sense of calm among the student body.
Many feel that this new measure will help the University take better care of their students, providing the University with a safer campus .
"Public Safety is for our students and you obviously cannot prevent students from going out to the bars," said senior Jessica Riley, adding that it's a good idea for Public Safety to be there for support when students are intoxicated and at their most vulnerable.
Senior Kagen Yelmene agrees on the condition that the patrols around the rest of the campus aren't compromised. "As long as Public Safety continues to adequately patrol the rest of campus and the dorms the addition of the safety booth will be a good one."
Public Safety’s new booth is located on Lawrence St. and Hempstead Turnpike to ensure the safety of students. (Marc Butcavage/The Chronicle)