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Security laying charges to fight student mischief

VANDALISM AND in- cidents of students entering underground service tunnels has increase significantly this semester, according to A.J. MacLeod, director of the -se- curity department. The de- partment has now decided to begin pressing charges on stu- dents found engaged in either ictivity.

According to Macleod, neidents of vandalism such ‘is students tampering with ‘lre equipment, pulling false «larms, or damaging signs and buildings is ‘much higher this year.” No specific figures

as to the amount of increase d

are available yet.

Blanchard Hall seems to be where most of this activity has occurred.

“Blanchard has had a considerable amount of dam- age”, said MacLeod. He spec- ulated that the vandalism has been due somewhat to initia- tion stunts, but also to par- ties,

MacLeod could offer no reason as to why vandalism is worse at Blanchard Hall than at other residences or why de- Struction to university prop- erty on a whole has increased this semester.

“Perhaps we are dealing With a different breed of stu- dent this year’, he said.

Students at Blanchard, Since they are separated from the rest of the campus, may feel that the residence is not Patrolled as often or paid as uch attention to as Marian or Bernardine. This feeling of freedom together with the act that students drink and

arty more during the begin- ling of the year may be con- tibuting factors.

STUDENTS UNNELS

Besides the problem of ‘creased vandalism, there is he old problein of the ser- ice tunnels that link each uilding on campus. The tun- els carry heating pipes, tele- hone and electrical connec- “Ns between buildings and

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IN

are large enough to crawl through.

Access to these tunnels is freely available to anyone who knows where one of the many entrances is located. In the past, student “Spelunkers” would often explore the tun- nels through an entrance in Main Building. Once inside, one can find the way inside al- most any building on campus, night or day. ?

MacLeod said that dur- ing morning patrols, secu- rity officers have found man- hole entrances to the tunnels opened. He said that not only do the electrical and steam conduits in the tunnels pose a

great danger to explorers. but,

by leaving the manholes open, there is the added danger of passers-by falling in. MacLeod that the service tunnels have pip- ing and wiring that are ex-

stressed

tremely dangerous to a per- son unfamiliar with them and that if the activity keeps up,

he said, “Someone is going to.

be very seriously injured”. Tunnel have

only been locked at Marian,

Bernardine, and AVC. When

asked why all entrances have not been locked to remove the temptation from students all together, MacLeod said that it was impractical to lock other entrances. “We need to have access to them in case of emergency” , he said.

entrances

However, the Security department last year placed locks on gates around cam- pus to inhibit vehicles from driving on campus walkways. One assumes that there is a greater chance of emer- gency vehicles needing imme- diate access to the campus in- terior than of workmen need- ing access to the tunnels.

PRESSING CHARGES

To combat the problems of student vandalism, enter- ing service tunnels, and other activities, MacLeod said that from. now on, “the security

BLANCHARD. seen--as worst offender to’ increase

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in vandalism

departinent will be using the courts.”

“It is getting way out of hand”, said MacLeod. OE have to start laying charges.”

Any persons found tam- pering with fire equipment, setting false alarms, or com- mitting vandalism will now be prosecuted. Person found en- tering the service tunnels will face a charge of public mis- chief, which has a maximum penalty of 2 years imprison- ment.

“All students should take a very serious look around be- fore they decide to destroy university property,” he said. “A degree will not be much value to them if they are sup- porting a criminal record.”

In fact, Macleod stated that offenses involving alcohol will also be prosecuted.

“Those people involved with liquor outside residences or in hallways or lounges... will be charged with illegal possession of liquor and dealt with by the courts.”

In addition to laying charges for offenses, the Se- curity department will be in-

creasing night foot patrols on campus from 2 to 3 officers. Patrols will also be made by the city police, who have “been asked to assist us with the vandalism taking place on campus.”

MacLeod said he was dis-

appointed by the behaviour of

student he has seen so far this term.

“These are high school deals”, he said. He stated that he would expect students at a post-secondary institu- tion to act in a better fashion

and take pride in their univer-

sity.