Res Life to expand security camera program

The cameras were installed to increase students' sense of safety.

By Joe Buzzelli

Published Oct. 23, 2009

When the keycard kiosks were vandalized in Center and College Avenue residence halls, instead of integrating those costs into the next semester's room rates as in past years, the Department of Residential Life was able to find the culprits thanks to the new security camera pilot program.

"We luckily were able to track down the students responsible and we didn't have to charge that expense upon innocent students," Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said. "That was about $2,000 cost for each kiosk."

The security camera program in residence halls began last year and is currently in place in 15 of the 24 residence halls, Minor said. Because the program is going extremely well, Residential Life plans to continue to install cameras in the residence halls as they are renovated, he said.

Minor said he has yet to hear any negative response from students about the security cameras.

"When we first brought this up, we wanted to get student input and they all seemed very interested," Minor said. "We now have students coming to us asking if there are security cameras in certain locations."

The cameras are placed on the exterior of the residence halls, as well as in the main common areas of the first floors. Minor said there are no plans to add cameras throughout the rest of the buildings because Residential Life still wants to allow students a sense of privacy on their floors.

One of the reasons students don't seem to have any problems with the security cameras is nobody is actively monitoring the motion censors, Minor said. They are strictly for reviewing when an incident occurs.

"I honestly don't mind at all," said Amanda Eder, Hatch residence hall resident and freshman. "I know that I'm not going to be vandalizing anything, so what's the big deal if I'm on camera when I'm walking out the building or going to the vending machine?"

Minor also said students of this generation don't question this kind of technology, even if it might seem intrusive.

"These students grew up with nanny cams, web cams and all sorts of security cameras," Minor said. "They are so used to being followed around and having that information collected."

Based on the plans for renovation of residence halls, all halls will have cameras installed in them by 2017, Minor said. But Missouri Students Association President Jordan Paul said Residential Life has suggested a program in which any student organization can speed up the process of installing cameras in residence halls, and Residential Life will match the funds they put up.

"The match program is something we've considered, but there's nothing officially set," Minor said. "The problem is we might end up redoing a lot of work when we do renovate them if we were to install cameras in the un-renovated halls now."

Putting cameras in each residence hall costs about $20,000 to wire, which includes 16 cameras to place around and inside buildings.

Residential Life is also piloting new ideas within the program. With the renovation of Hudson Residence Hall, they will be placing a camera in an elevator for the first time.

MSA is also suggesting installing security cameras in the parking garages around campus, Paul said.

"We certainly think this is a very important concept and hope to next put cameras in the parking garages," Paul said.

Minor said Residential Life's main goal is to keep students safe.

"We want students to study hard and make lasting friendships," he said. "But if we can't do anything else, we want to create an environment where they feel safe to live."