Somebody’s watching you: Security steps at the Academy
Security camaras watch over students in Main Hall.
January 27, 2010 • Molly K. '10
Filed under News, Uncategorized
Close your eyes and picture your daily routine at Ursuline. Imagine yourself wandering the hallways, navigating through the “Freshman Lounge”, tripping over carpet lumps in Cass Hall, and admiring the portables as they desperately hold on to life. The next time you see these sights, you just might be in the lens of a security camera.
“We take a large number of precautionary measures for the safety of the students,” explained Mr. Steve Smith, Director of Security.
Ursuline’s entrances are well-fortified with electronic access controls placed on the majority of the doors which can only be unlocked with a special access key. Dallas police officers drive through the school regularly to patrol for suspicious activity, and Ursuline boasts its own staff of uniformed security guards who watch the front gate and school building around the clock.
The Ursuline security force is effective, but it receives crucial support from the system’s greatest tool: the security cameras. From his desk, Mr. Smith monitors a myriad of cameras placed all around campus. On his computer, he can watch footage of school entrances, hallways, Haggar, the front and exit gates, and the technology area, but he wants everyone to know that “there are no cameras hidden in the restrooms or locker rooms.” The cameras record 24 hours a day, and Mr. Smith’s equipment can store 90 days worth of footage.
This footage is invaluable should a crime occur. If an incident were to happen, Mr. Smith explained, he would first check the cameras, then check with the guards and see who came in and who left out of the exit gate. Using these steps, Mr. Smith can backtrack and recreate a crime, using this information to solve the problem.
“I never rest,” he said. “I never know when something will happen.”
Some students have raised questions regarding the security of their belongings. What does Mr. Smith think about the perceived problem?
“I wouldn’t say there’s really a theft problem,” he answered. “Most of the time, if a girl reports missing property, she left it somewhere or someone else inadvertently picked it up.”
But at the same time, Mr. Smith urges students to be cautious and aware. If students lock their car doors, look out for each other, and refrain from leaving property laying around, they can reduce opportunities for potential crimes.
“Awareness is the key to preventing an incident from occurring,” Mr. Smith said.
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