By: Tristin Burris (Whetstone Staff)

If you’ve ever walked across campus or entered the lobby of the College Center and felt like you were being watched, you were only partly right.

It’s much more than a feeling.

Monitoring security cameras

[/media-credit] Monitoring security cameras

Twenty-four surveillance cameras were recently added to the Wesley College campus, making it now 90 cameras continually watching students, faculty and staff. Many of the cameras can be found around the residence halls, administrative buildings and in the plaza.

“Now virtually every aspect of the college is caught on camera,” Student Government Association President Bryan Zarou said. “The plaza has a brand new camera that can zoom in and see the dimples on your face.”

Senior Aaron Givens said he feels safer now than he did as a freshman.

“The cameras are in public spaces where anyone could see you anyway, so it’s not invasion of privacy,” he said.

Freshman Morgan Seymour gave that point of view a twist.

“I do feel safe knowing that there is heightened security,” she said. “I wouldn’t want something like Newtown (Conn.) to happen here — but 90 cameras does sound like a lot.”

Sophomore Kayla Fromal transferred from Salisbury and says their campus had fewer cameras.

“I feel like there is no place that I can’t be seen,” she said. “Someone is always watching. Instead, I think they should put cameras for student walking to Wesley West during non-daylight hours.”

Zarou said students are becoming more responsible for their actions because of these new security measures. The number of incidents around campus has gone down.

“We decided, in order for security to do their job, they needed more eyes on campus,” Zarou said.

Wesley now has live viewing of the entire campus from one central location.

“The cameras were added to enhance our system, as we had very few exterior cameras,” Director of Safety and Security Walt Beaupre said.

Wesley College Security and the SGA met to discuss these changes and the student organization voted to spend $32,000 for the new cameras.

Cameras were not the only changes made for additional protection at Wesley.

An assessment was conducted by Credo, a consultant group, in spring 2012 to provide recommendations for providing a safer and more supportive Wesley College environment.

Wesley created an online anonymous reporting system so students and other members of the college can report concerns that could jeopardize the safety of others in the Wesley community.

More information on the anonymous reporting system can be accessed by going to the bottom of the Wesley College home page and clicking “Safety & Security Alerts.”

“They are pretty common,” Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Alan Russell said about anonymous reporting systems. “Most colleges have one.”

Beaupre said this system has only been used once since it was introduced, but that one time was enough to help reveal a suspect.

The college also introduced a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). Director of Residence Life Kevin Hansbury is a member of this team.

Hansbury said sometimes the BIT team can take on a negative connotation because the students confuse it with the Student Conduct Administration and it is important to understand that these are two separate processes.

“It’s actually a very positive resource for students,” he said. “If a student is referred to us, they are not in trouble. The behavioral intervention process is designed to reach out and assist them. We address issues before they culminate and refer students to resources that will help them.”

More information on the BIT team can also be accessed by clicking “Safety & Security Alerts.”