External group looks at safety

The University contracted the use of independent security consultants to review security procedures in residences as part of its review of McGinn Security Service, acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said yesterday. Carl Kellem of Kellem Associates and Tony Gnolfo of IBM Security suggested, in a report commissioned by the Department of Public Safety, that residential security no longer be placed under the watch of the Department of Residential Living. Currently, residential security is under the jurisdiction of Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone. The report specifically makes mention to two workers in the Residential Living office who are responsible for safety: Gordon Rickards, assistant director of Safety, Security and Facilities and Joe Kirk, manager of Safety and Security. Kellem and Gnolfo indicate in their report that neither Kirk nor Rickards have security backgrounds or any security training. "It is recommended that the security function be re-organized and that security management, operators, programs and career development responsibilities be transferred to the Department of Public Safety," the report states. They also recommend that Kirk's job be restructured. "An aggressive professional development plan for Mr. Kirk should be developed and initiated immediately," it continues. Finally, the report recommends establishing a permanent high-level liaison between Residential Living and Public Safety to coordinate and escalate residential security. The two consultants also had separate, specific recommendations regarding McGinn Security Services. One such recommendation is that guards have more responsibilities, like patrolling student floors, making sure lights are working and performing exterior building patrols. "The primary and only responsibility of the security desk position is the validation of ID badges and the monitoring of unauthorized access attempts, i.e., jumping turnstiles, swapping ID badges, etc.," the report states. Another major problem the team found is that there is no contractual obligation in the University's agreement with McGinn to perform background checks on McGinn employees. The consultants recommend that a standard generic contract be used by the University for all guard firms bidding for any University services.

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