Big Brother is coming to the University. Or is it? The recent consideration of closed-circuit television (CCTV) usage on campus could potentially help campus security, but it also raises many questions about how the idea has been developed thus far as well as the future of the project around the University.
There are always more steps that can be taken to make sure that the Wash. U. campus in general is a safer place. Still, there is a fine line between what will help in ways worthwhile and other more frivolous reasons put in place simply to make students feel comfortable while not actually solving the problem. While there is no good reason why security cameras could not be placed in areas like parking garages, the effect that these cameras would have may be negligible in terms of reducing campus crime. The promise of the development of an oversight committee for the implementation and guarantees from various people connected to the project that the cameras won’t be placed in private spaces is reassuring, but even so, the potential for abuse of the system is somewhat disconcerting.
Student Union Senate decided that CCTV is important enough to implement to some extent, but did not specify any details regarding the cameras, the system or the guidelines. Since it will take time to decide upon all of these specifics, this system still will not be implemented for at least a semester, if not more, given that initial discussions about the project were held last fall. If this is something that will truly help the campus community, then the project as a whole should be moving much more quickly. Furthermore, if it is true that so many other campuses already have CCTV set up, then one can’t help but wonder why it has taken our much acclaimed school so long to catch up.
With crime on campus seemingly at a consistently low level, it is puzzling why so much effort would be expended on lowering incidents on campus when there have been more numerous high-profile incidents off campus this year. Coupled with the new locks installed on doors in many on-campus buildings earlier this year, there has clearly been a push for a safer campus, even as off-campus crime has proven to be an increasingly dangerous problem.
Additionally, the recent increase in crime off campus has been a trend all year and will more than likely continue as the MetroLink stations near campus open. Rather than slowly progressing with ideas that may have limited usefulness to begin with, perhaps Brookings and WUPD should look for solutions that would make off-campus residences as safe to live in as on-campus dorms and apartments already are.