Chief of Police Michael J. Kasitz spoke with the SGA Senate about an upcoming campus project regarding Browning, the annual spring semester safety drill and the issue on security cameras.
Chief Kasitz stated that not much will change from the fall semester to the spring semester. He encouraged that if anything on campus appears wrong to please contact the police.
He reminded the Senate of the LiveSafe app, a safety mechanism accessible for APSU students, staff and faculty to use. The app acts as a blue light call box and can track your location if you choose to enable the feature, so that campus police can pinpoint you in case of an emergency.
The big change is that on May 6 Browning Drive will be closed to through traffic permanently. Access will only be granted to emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances.
The parking lot between the Library, Claxton and Clement will be designated as Americans with Disability Act (ADA) parking only. Traffic in the area will then be reduced and Kasitz explained that the one-way direction of Henry Street will be reversed. The overall goal is a safer environment for pedestrians.
Faculty and staff will lose 15 parking spots but parking for students will not be taken as compensation. Kasitz mentioned that the modified area will eventually be “beautified” in the second phase of the plan.
Additionally, Kasitz announced that there will be a “secure in place” drill held a week after spring break. The purpose, Kasitz said, is to get people to think about what they would do in an emergency.
Afterward, President Courtney Covington questioned Kasitz about areas on campus with little surveillance but riddled with crime. Other senators also agreed that not enough security cameras were being implemented by APSU.
Kasitz clarified that security cameras are investigative tools and not successful in preventing crime. As the Chief of Police, Kasitz has a budget for cameras but he always considers the scope and quality of the equipment.
Campus security cameras are used to track movement and are not monitored 24/7. Additionally, timestamps can be provided by cameras but are not useful if people do not register upon entering a building.
He explained that thefts that happen without the presence of surveillance cameras are typically crimes of opportunity. The best course of action is to have your belongings stowed away, supervised by others you trust or on hand.
Following Chief Kasitz’s presentation, Vice President Trenton Delane continued the meeting with the executive council (EC) reports.
Secretary Hailee Crawford reminded the Senate that the annual SGA blood drive will be on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. President Covington shared that Unity Week starts on March 11.
The meeting concluded with announcements consisting of possible scholarships, troubles in understanding foreign professors and making SGA a platform for fighting sexual harassment. Senator Ana C Pla Rosario proposed that SGA could receive training on sexual harassment in regards to identification and preventative methods.
Meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m.
