The Stampede

Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Timothy Hurtak Milligan security officers patrol the campus at night.

In the continuing effort to improve security on campus, Student Development officials have asked the Elizabethton Police Department to add Milligan to its route this semester. In addition to Milligan's security officers, city police officers will now be driving through campus to keep a watchful eye.

"We wanted to have a police presence on campus in order to keep students safe," said Mark Fox, vice president of Student Development.

Maj. Rusty Verran of the EPD said that the officers were encouraged to perform routine patrols on and around the campus. Currently one EPD unit patrols from Hudson Drive in Elizabethton to the Johnson City limits, which includes Milligan.

As far as Fox is concerned, security is the authority on campus.

"If (a security officer) tells you to move to a certain area, you must move to that area," said Fox.

Milligan security officers are supposed to ask for student identification if they happen to come across an incident while patrolling campus. Police officers are also encouraged to ask for identification. However, it is up to the officer's judgment to do so. According to Fox, security officers can ask students to leave whatever area they are in if they are not familiar with them.

"We don't want students loitering out on campus at 2 a.m.," said Fox.

There is currently no curfew in place for students or policy regarding students loitering on campus.

According to Fox, it's up to the discretion of the police or security officer to decide what to do if an incident were to arise.

However, Fox's main concern is the safety of traffic on campus.

"Stop-sign violations are the biggest problem," Fox said.

He encouraged security to give fines for moving violations such as speeding or rolling through a stop sign. The fee for a moving violation is $40.

Fox is concerned with students driving recklessly around campus, which could potentially create "critical situations."

These security measures are part of the effort that began last semester to increase security around the campus, including the installation of lighting around campus, security cameras and the keycard access points have helped in creating a more secure campus, according to Fox.

Continued...

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