Students have mixed feelings on McGinn

Although University students who live on campus are certainly talking about the McGinn Security Services guards found sleeping on the job last week, they seem to have mixed feelings on the issue. During a two-hour period early last Wednesday morning, The Daily Pennsylvanian photographed five McGinn security guards asleep on the job in several campus dormitories. Some students said they are just fed up with the Office of Residential Living, for its handling of sleeping guards and mail problems earlier this semester. "Between the mail and the sleeping security guards and? Residential Living saying 'our department is so good,' I'm just sick of it," said College sophomore Tabitha Callaway. "I think they need to take a little more responsibility for all the things that are going on." Other students said they placed the blame for sleeping guards directly on McGinn Security Services. "We could really use some more security on campus," said College freshman Sally Carpenter. "I think we might even need a whole new security firm -- we've given McGinn enough chances." But despite the reports of sleeping guards, many students said they still feel safe in University residences. College freshman Jennifer Virgilio said she feels safe because she has yet to experience any problems. "I don't feel unsafe," she said. "I haven't personally seen anyone asleep on the job?[and] I don't think that a lot of them do sleep on the job." Callaway said, however, that while she does not necessarily feel unsafe in campus dorms, but that it is the "principle" of guards sleeping which bothers her. "I don't feel real unsafe, but I feel that it's totally unacceptable," she said. "It certainly doesn't help safety any." University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said he agrees. "The fact that they were sleeping lessens the level of safety for the people in the building," he said. "If they are hired to be there and be responsible for that role [and] they don't perform it, they ought not be allowed to work here on this campus." But, Kuprevich added, residences are still safe because of the presence of Residential Living desk workers in addition to McGinn guards. "There's normally two people involved in the front end of each of the buildings, [and] that's another level of protection," he said. "There's at least someone else observing and watching what's going on." Kuprevich also said that since he instituted police spot checks of University residences last week, there have been no more reported problems. "To my knowledge, I have not been informed of finding anyone either away from their post or not attentive to their duties," he said. Students interviewed had many other suggestions for improving McGinn's service, including adding music or television for the guards, adding more personnel, shortening shifts, alternating posts, increasing the number of breaks allowed and not hiring guards who also hold day jobs.