Lack of Security Cameras Around Residence Halls

An uptick in stolen bicycles outside on-campus residences leads to questions about cameras at residence halls

Bike rack outside O'Shea Hall. Source: Brian Ramos

Recently, a bicycle was stolen near John and Nancy O’Shea Hall. Associate Director of Operations for Safety and Security, Brian Dolansky, says there are no updates on the status of the stolen bike.

The bicycle would be easier to find, or the person who stole the bike, if there were security cameras outside residence halls. Currently, there are only security cameras at all of the entrances inside residence halls. There are no cameras at the on-campus townhouses. Residence halls on campus with security cameras inside the entrance are all freshman dorms and the buildings at the New Gartland Commons. 

However, Christian DeBlock ’23 wishes the Upper West townhouses had security cameras as his bicycle was stolen last October. DeBlock adds, “As most buildings have security cameras, it is kind of puzzling that the Upper West courtyard does not have any cameras.”

To this day, DeBlock’s bicycle has not been found, and Marist security has no idea who took it as well. DeBlock filed a report, and after a week, he heard from Marist security telling him that they patrolled around campus and Poughkeepsie and could not find it. 

One possibility is adding security cameras in residence hallways. However, as Dolansky mentions, “I have not thought about it as I believe strongly in the expectation of privacy for freshmen as they are going to communal bathrooms. Also, there have not been any problems in hallways where we would have to consider adding cameras. We want to emphasize safety and security, but we also need to have a balance on privacy.”

A potential solution to this situation is to add more security cameras to the building’s exterior. Dolansky indicates, “We are considering adding some exterior cameras as it is possible, but there are currently none,” said Dolansky. “In order to add cameras, we would have to develop a coherent and broader security plan.”