McGinn to meet with U. officials

University officials will meet with representatives from McGinn Security Services on Thursday to begin discussing ways in which the security firm can improve its services, Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said yesterday. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum announced Monday that the University gave McGinn formal notice last Friday that it is considering the termination of its agreement with the firm. In a letter signed by McCoullum and Simeone, the University calls for "immediate changes" due to the "numerous lapses in security in a number of the residence halls." Last week, The Daily Pennsylvanian photographed five McGinn guards found asleep on the job between 4 and 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Under the terms of the University's contract with the firm, which is set to expire in 1998, University and McGinn officials must now engage in "good faith" discussions in an attempt to avoid termination. Thursday's meeting will be the first of several to be held between members of the University community and McGinn Security Services in the next month. McGinn Vice-President Joseph McGinn Jr. said yesterday that he did not want to comment on any specifics regarding the agreement or ways in which McGinn Security Services intends to improve its services until after the meeting on Thursday. "We'll know more at that point," McGinn said. Simeone said she will attend the meeting along with representatives from the VPUL office, Purchasing Department and University Police. Some students will also be present at the meeting, Simeone added. The main focus of the meeting will be how to improve the on-the-job performance of McGinn security guards, Simeone said. "We will of course be discussing steps to increase guards' awareness and performance," Simeone said. One step that is currently being taken by the University is the purchase of radios for all the guardposts. The transmitters which will be purchased by Residential Living from University Police will be used to let guards communicate with their supervisors on a regular basis, Simeone added. McCoullum said guards will likely be required to call into a central location at certain times during the shift to ensure they are alert. Meanwhile, spot checks by Residential Living officials and University Police will continue during the "graveyard shift." And Simeone said she is taking these checks seriously.