Security firm to be selected by tomorrow

McGinn staff still hopeful and Jorie Green The selection team assigned to choose the University's next residential security contractor will make its final decision tomorrow, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice Provost Carolynne Martin said this week. The team is currently interviewing the five firms which it narrowed down from the original applicant list of 14. Rumors are circulating that McGinn Security Services -- the company whose contract was terminated four years prematurely by the University in the spring -- is still one of the contenders. But Martin said she is still "not going forward with any names at this time," and would not identify any of the five firms which are finalists. McGinn Security Services President Joseph McGinn, Sr. would not say this week if his company is still a contender, but he did say he feels McGinn has "done the job" and that he is "looking forward to serving the campus community in the future." He added that he feels the reason his contract was terminated was because of The Daily Pennsylvanian's "editorial approach to our activity." Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said the team must consider what standards and what levels of accountability the firms should be held to. She added that while cost is a factor, it should not be the "essential" factor. "Cost is only one of the issues," she said. "The question is who will provide the best service, and that may not be the lowest bidder." McGinn supervisor Frank Naimoli, who said that he has worked for several security contracts besides McGinn, said all security companies face similar problems, and that McGinn has still performed well comparatively. "We've done exceptional for the mad hours the University makes us put in," he said. "There's been a low rate of any incidents [of sleeping on the job] if there's any." Naimoli added that due to McGinn's "exceptional" performance over the summer, he would be "surprised" if McGinn was not re-awarded the contract tomorrow. Other McGinn employees are not so confident. Marquita Mack, a McGinn guard who has been at the University for nine years, said she has been actively seeking employment elsewhere. "Sometimes people have got to do what they have to do," she said. "But I have to make a living too." Naimoli said he has not been seeking other employment, because he is "confident" McGinn will be selected. The interviews of the five finalist firms were conducted by representatives from the VPUL office, the Department of Public Safety and the Purchasing Department. Martin said those three offices will submit their recommendations to Provost Stanley Chodorow and Executive Vice President Janet Hale for approval.