Campus safety probe planned

Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said that an investigation into on-campus residential safety and security should be "started up by the end of this semester." Simeone said yesterday that the investigation committee will include students and will look at ways of making security in residences more effective. Earlier this month, Simeone said her department would fully investigate allegations made by some McGinn Security Services guards that some co-workers sleep on the job and promised to look into McGinn's supervision, training and background check procedures. The committee will discuss a number of topics, including whether to continue using McGinn for residential security, Simeone said. McGinn's current contract is set to expire in 1997. McGinn has provided dorm security at the University since 1987. In addition, Simeone said she plans to distribute a security survey to undergraduates right after spring break. "We already surveyed graduate students [in the fall] and 91 percent of them were satisfied with security services," she said. Adelaide Delluva, chairperson of University Council's Safety and Security Committee, said her committee will keep a close eye on the investigation. "I think the role of the Safety and Security Committee is to find out exactly how the investigation will be carried out and to make criticisms of it," Delluva said. She said the supervision of the McGinn guards should be scrutinized carefully, adding that supervisors should be held accountable for security lapses. "It's so easy to dump on the rank and file," she said. "[But], are the supervisors clear of their duties? Do they keep periodic watch? Do they work unreasonable shifts?" Mark Frederick, chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly Safety and Security Committee, said the investigation will provide a needed look at security. "I think it's a good idea that [Simeone is] launching this type of investigation," Frederick said. "I'm sure that members of our committee will be more than willing to assist [in the investigation]. Hopefully the investigation should provide us with an answer on whether or not to keep McGinn." Frederick said the committee will not be meeting until after the upcoming UA elections. Simeone said that Residential Living has received three complaints about McGinn guards since she posted signs in dormitories instructing students how to lodge complaints. "I believe they were relatively minor, concerning guards not doing their jobs," Simeone said. She said Residential Living followed up on the complaints and turned them over to McGinn for processing. McGinn officials could not be reached for comment. Concerning other security measures put into place this month by the University, Simeone said new security measures, such as spot checks by University Police and McGinn supervisors, have not turned up anyone asleep on the job. Simeone added that McGinn has reworked its training brochure, continues to do background checks on its employees and has met with guards to go over expectations with them. "They continue to be energetic about doing spot checks over evenings," Simeone said. "We feel very good about security systems in place. We are in a constant state of evaluation and improvement."