Defending residence hall cameras

Last week, the Saint John’s Senate Executive Council published an editorial in opposition to the proposed installation of security cameras in common areas of dorms.

I fully understand their concerns about this proposal, but I wanted to explain why I think they are wrong and why I support the installation of said cameras.

Many students are fed up with having to pay for the damage of others. In fact, some students are so fed up that they have organized patrols of residence halls at night to try and catch people in the act of vandalism.

While their efforts are admirable, students should not have to be patrolling the halls at night to prevent vandalism. We should be able to be in our dorm rooms, getting at least some semblance of a good night’s sleep. Instead, many of us are having to remain awake at all hours of the night to try and prevent ourselves and our families from being financially punished for the actions of people we don’t even know.

While no security system is perfect, having cameras in dorms would completely alleviate the need for students to be constantly patrolling the halls at night. That, in turn, would allow us to actually get some sleep; a rare commodity in college.

At the same time, having said security cameras would make it easier for the university to catch people who commit acts of vandalism; this would drastically reduce the likelihood of Residential Life having to bill entire floors for damage. All around, the benefits of having security cameras are significant.

Now I completely understand the concerns about privacy that have been expressed by the Senate. In most circumstances, I would find myself in agreement with them. There is undoubtedly potential for misuse of the system. But having spoken with numerous students whose families have been financially affected by these damages, it is clear that many of my fellow students are desperate for any solution that eliminates or reduces the need to have innocent students pay for damage and police their own dorms.

A common view I heard among many students is that if having security cameras and giving up their privacy in dorms will result in them no longer having to pay for damage they didn’t cause, that is a trade-off they are willing to make. That if having security cameras and giving up their privacy creates a deterrence against trashing bathrooms, that is a trade-off they are willing to make. That if having security cameras and giving up their privacy allows them to get at least some level of sleep, that is a trade-off they are willing to make.

Many students, myself included, are willing to accept whatever is necessary to prevent the need of innocent students to police their own residence halls and pay for damage they didn’t cause.

I urge SJU administrators to move forward with installing security cameras in residence hall common areas, regardless of what the Student Senate says.