Quad security causes condern

Gate turnstiles have been deactivated Due to recent maintenance of the turnstile at the upper gate at the Quadrangle, residents have entered by showing their PennCards through a window to guards at the gate's desk. "All I did to get in was flash my PennCard," said College freshman Mike Malvey. "It could have been a Drexel card or anything." At approximately 4:45 p.m. yesterday, three students entered the Quad while James Smith, an Allied security guard, was reading. Smith did not even raise his eyes from the page to check IDs, the students reported. Security Director Christopher Algard explained that the role of a security guard is to confirm the student's identity with their badge and then make sure the badge is swiped and read correctly in the system. "They should make eye contact and look at the face and picture," he said. Last Friday, an intoxicated Physical Plant worker entered the Quad and harassed students, raising questions about Quad security. According to Lou Visco, director of Maintenance and Utilities, the case is still "under investigation." "We're looking into it and trying to get all the reports together," he said. "Once we have a complete investigation then we will make decisions." But Visco did say the Physical Plant employee was relieved of his job as of Monday, and is now working without pay. "We have taken away his keys and Penn ID card," he added. Following these events, many students are concerned about the security in the Quad. "How can he look at my card when he's sitting in a little booth reading a magazine," asked College freshman Jason Mirvis. And Engineering freshman Jen Triolo was equally concerned. "If you're paying all this money for security you'd hope it would be there," she said. "I've never seen a security guard check my picture against my face." Wharton freshman Vivek Bantwal said Monday that he no longer officially signs in his guests because they can simply walk through the gate. According to Joe Kirk, director of Residential Operations, 450 people were caught last year using other people's IDs -- and 220 people have already been caught this academic year. But Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said she has confidence in the security program. "Public Safety has the highest regard and work to do everything to make sure students feel safe," she said. Security Coordinator Vernon Belden explained that his department is taking a serious look at ways to improve Quad security. "We're working on controlling the flow of students coming in -- anything from students not being able to congregate in front of the gate to talk to friends," he said. All the security marshals are currently being retrained, according to Kirk. And his department is working on sending out a message to Quad students in the residential news magazines that will inform the students how to handle security issues. Simeone said her department is working with the Department of Public Safety to make sure that all security workers are following the appropriate procedure.