Student Concern over Parking Lot Safety Lingers

By Hank Williams

On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 2nd, Sabrina Gerold and Claude Lopez returned to their cars in the South Parking Lot to find a rude surprise: their cars and 4–6 others parked in the vicinity had been vandalized.

Window glass was broken on all the cars and the thieves, unable to steal Ms. Gerold’s car phone, smashed it. Both students report repair costs of over $200 for glass alone and paid for the repairs themselves, citing high deductibles that made insurance claims unrealistic.

They are also angry at what they see as a lack of security in the lot, noting unstaffed security booths and emergency phones that did not work.

The college appears to have taken some steps to improve the situation: a recent visit by Messenger staff confirmed that the emergency telephone in the most desolate area is now working and observed regular security patrols. A check of the telephone brought a rapid response from security. Fencing around the perimeter of the parking lot also appeared to be intact.

Timing may have been a factor in the robberies: it was raining heavily on the day of the incident and guards on bike patrol were reassigned to positions inside buildings as a result. Officer Bell, who was on duty November 2nd and normally patrols the area, noted that “we’re back here [patrolling the lot] all the time,” adding that they will patrol in all but the heaviest rain, as was the case at the time of the robberies. He reported that a security car will patrol remote areas when the bike patrols are not out, but the car may have other priorities—an emergency or escorting students—that take it away from patrol duties.

The bigger problems are the sprawling layout and isolation of the lot, which makes security difficult. The south parking lot extends from the back of the “Y” Building, snaking around the athletic field and past the crumbling remains of (abandoned) Eisner Hall, which is the worst area, according to students. Two security booths sit unstaffed.

Students still do not seem to feel safe, however. Gerold and Lopez will no longer park their cars at the back and are either asking for security escorts or walking with friends to go to the lot. Other students questioned had similar feelings of unease.

“I don’t think I would feel safe back there,” stated Ms. Gerold. Asked about what she plans to do for parking from now on, she replied, “I don’t know. I planned on making a big stink about this.”