The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 62, Issue 4 - October 1, 1984

THE LOS ANGELES Volume 62 Issue 4 Lien’s Mike Stauber shows his form as he slams in another goal in LMU’s 16-9 vibtory over 18th-ranked Iona College. LMU is now in the nation’s top 20. LMU's Security Force Under Scrutiny By PATRICK O’HANNIGAN Loyolan News Writer It is 10 o’clock on a Thursday night. Walking through a wing of the campus dormitories, you notice that most of its in¬ habitants are in one room, getting their weekly dose of “Hill Street Blues” from the only color television set on the wing. Common-sense precautions are necessary, in part, because, Hueston says, “Security is becoming more complex. Theft and drunk driving are the most common problems here, but we are deal¬ ing more and more with other types of crimes as well.”v ; Since last February, LMU security of¬ ficers have been certified by the state of * On a night shift from 11 pm. to 7 amr there maybe onlyfour officers available.'1' You see some doors ajar* and guess that most of the other doors are unlocked. You are right. You also guess that this distresses another set of “blues” — not the ones in Frank Furillo’s squadroom, but the ones based in the Alumni Gym¬ nasium. You are right again. According to Harry Hueston, director of Campus Public Safety, students at LMU are not security-conscious. That poses a problem for Public Safety of¬ ficers, because Public Safety is understaf¬ fed. On a night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., there may be only four officers available: one in the Information Booth guarding access to the University, another in the Public Safety office, and two patrolling opposite sides of campus. Hueston expects to have more person¬ nel within six weeks, but feels that students can best insure their own safety and that of their possessions by becoming security-conscious. That means locking doors, reporting suspicious individuals; walking with friends at night, etc. California in arrest, search and seizure authority. They are also trained in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), unarmed combat and fire safety. When asked his opinion of Public Safe¬ ty’s capabilities, Hueston answered that he has confidence in his Officers. Asked if it was fair to compare LMU’s security with security departments found on other college campuses, the security chief said that such a comparison would be difficult. He added, however, that he has visited a number o f similar schools (Claremont College, Saint Mary’s College, University of Santa Clara, University of San Diego) and, in his opinion, Public Safety officers . here are expected to do more jobs with less pay and less equipment than their counter¬ parts elsewhere. Of course, the first concern of a crime victim is how quickly a security officer reaches the scene, not whether the officer is carrying a state-of-the-art walkie-talkie or not. Hueston said that the speed of Public Safety’s response to a call depends on two things: the number of officers available and the nature of the call. Reports of violence or obvious danger are checked immediately. Hueston is working toward the day when Public Safety “can get anywhere on campus in two or three minutes.” Responses to calls from Barcelona Apartments, the University-owned hous¬ ing complex located in Playa del Rey, take longer. Mike Bartosch, director of Resident Life, observed, “Barcelona is more vulnerable to criminals, because it is off campus. And the LAPD cannot respond to incidents there very quickly, because its closest station also serves high-crime areas like Venice.” He noted that there have been no serious problems in Barcelona, despite its location, and pointed out that it has a full complement of Resident Ad¬ visors. Some Barcelona residents escort their fellow students from the parking lot to their rooms. Campus Public Safety lacks the personnel to make frequent trips to Barcelona, but “security has been trying to patrol more frequently. They come up at least once a night/’ noted Lori Pawin- ski, a Resident Advisor there. Bartosch remarked that lighting on campus is in some places inadequate, “But it has improved.” He, like Hueston, (continued on page 6) Dorms in Demand p. 3 Student Carries a Torch 17 An Earnest Endeavor Division I Lions TBMfcMOse for comfort in cramped ij^^^^BBBBaaaaaaafisaasas Loyolan Photo by Joel