Allied takes over dorm security

The University selected Allied Security, Inc. to take over campus security services in July. The Pittsburgh-based firm replaces McGinn Security Services, whose contract was terminated in April after several guards were found asleep on the job. Allied was chosen for its two-year contract after an extensive three-month search. "We are very pleased with the results of this process and believe that this firm shall serve the students, Residential Living and the University well," said former Executive Vice President Janet Hale, who approved the choice along with Provost Stanley Chodorow. The firm was selected from a pool of 14 candidates which were evaluated by a team of representatives from the Division of Public Safety, the Department of Residential Living, the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, the Purchasing Department and the student body. Assistant to the Deputy Vice Provost Carolynn Martin said the companies were rated on a scale of one to 10 on five categories -- management, quality assurance, responsiveness, training and experience. University President Judith Rodin, who was briefed on the selection team's "decision-making process," called the entire search process "highly professional." She added that the University will monitor the new firm closely. During one two-hour period in March, The Daily Pennsylvanian photographed four McGinn guards asleep on duty. "The vendor has a responsibility to monitor [its guards]," she said. "[But] it is the University's responsibility to insure that we get the kind of service which was promised." Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said members of the search committee which chose Allied visited other college campuses, talked to security experts and met with an expert on sleep disorders to amass a set of recommendations which "were all taken into account in writing this contract." Factors which were considered for each candidate include a proactive attitude toward security, state-of-the-art technology and "personable" guards. Allied, which began in Pittsburgh in 1957, is now the seventh largest security company in the country, with 45 branch offices nationwide. In the Northeast region, it serves several other universities, including Chaney University, the University of Pittsburgh Business School, Allegheny County Community College and Caldwell College in New Jersey. According to a statement issued by the company, Allied's motto is "Integrity, Reliability, and Service" and the company believes in the "importance of continuously improving upon customer satisfaction." Gordon Ellis, branch manager for Allied's Philadelphia office, said the company is looking forward to working in partnership with the University to provide a safer campus environment. "We are confident in our systems and practices," he said. "We truly believe that we can provide a better security environment for students, faculty and visitors." Ellis added that while some officers in some buildings will work the day shift, the company's primary assignments will lie in the 4 p.m.-midnight and midnight-8 a.m. shifts. He said the guards will be made up of both "people that have been on board [at Allied]" and "people that we're interviewing currently." To his knowledge, no one from McGinn Security has applied for a job at Allied, he said. Joseph McGinn, Sr., president of McGinn Security, said he was disappointed with the University's decision not to rehire his company. "I'm disappointed because we feel that we've been responsive," he said. "But that's the way it goes." McGinn added that the company will remain in business and seek employment elsewhere. "We will be active and solicit new business," he said. "[The University is] a major piece of business and it's not going to be easy to replace but it's something that we have to work on." McGinn blamed DP editorials for the loss of his company's contract.