 "Photo: Joshua Doby for The Hilltop")
Multiple break-ins and thefts have happened on campus this semester as well as other incidents that concern the safety of students, faculty and staff.
These incidents follow a more serious shooting that happened in a campus residence last spring.
Students who were interviewed by The Hilltop expressed feelings that there is room for improvement in campus security.
“I don’t feel safe,” said Ashleigh Brisbon, a freshman who lives in Fox Dormitory. “I keep doors locked and my valuables put away. When I leave my room, my valuables come with me.”
Last spring a group of suspected gang members invaded the Dixon-Palmer Apartments, holding three MHC students at gunpoint. One of the students was able to escape, while the others were left defenseless. The men threatened the occupants, and one of the students had a barrel of a gun shoved in his mouth. No one was hurt, although a gun was discharged in the apartment.
Since then Myers men’s dormitory, Fox women’s dormitory, Huffman men’s dormitory and Cornwell, which houses the humanities division, faculty offices and classrooms, have been subject to theft or vandalism.
In Myers, a laptop, flat screen television and X-box video game system were stolen.
During fall break, a resident left his key in his room door, and an intruder entered and stole several items, a resident assistant said.
“Most of these incidents have happened on the second floor, which is ground level,” said Yonatan Arnold, a resident assistant in Myers.
Vandalism to Myers has been a reoccurring theme. Students were playing soccer in the hallway and broke a light fixture. Someone broke the glass to the box that holds the fire extinguisher.
Residents constantly are tearing down posters, breaking exit signs, smoking in the bathrooms and rooms and pulling the fire alarm. Residents have also been sighted playing paintball in the dorm.
“Personally, I think Myers is worse this year than last year,” Arnold said.
The second floor in Fox, which is ground level, was also broken into. A flat-screen television, laptop, Ipod docking station and money were stolen.
“I feel that cameras need to be added to the dorms and all over campus,” said Brisbon. “When you come to school you should feel safe, knowing that there is security. But if people’s rooms are still getting broken into, what is the point of having security? I feel each dorm should have its own personal security, so if something goes wrong, we know that the security will be there.”
A Lady Lions “Lionstrong” softball shirt was also recently stolen from the Fox Dormitory washing machine. A cash reward is being offered to anyone who has any information about the missing shirt.
“I sit down there with my laundry, just to make sure no one takes it. Last year, I had all of my towels stolen from Stroup laundry room,” said Brisbon.
Huffman has also been vandalized. In the fall of 2008, the water fountains on the third and fourth floor of Huffman were kicked off the wall. This resulted in the hallways being flooded. The carpet was taken up from the entire dorm and has not been replaced.
This semester a car was keyed on Huffman Hill one night. A $150 cash reward was offered to anyone who had information regarding the incident.
Doors on the first and third floor of Huffman have been punched in, too. On two separate occasions, the third and fourth floors have been vandalized. On the third floor, a Playstation 3, a Playstation controller, a game, DVDs and new shoes were stolen.
On the fourth floor, an Ipod was stolen, and a paycheck was taken out of a resident’s wallet. A television was also stolen.
“Everytime I leave my room, I lock my door,” said Ben Little, a resident assistant in Huffman. “Even if I am going across the hallway, I lock my door. That’s all you can do."
Little said everyone needs to be vigilant in safekeeping their valuables.
“No one is going to break your room door to steal stuff, that’s not very inconspicuous. People need to realize if you lock your door your stuff won’t get stolen,” he said.
Over fall break, a Mars Hill College professor’s office in Cornwell was broken into. Expensive textbooks were stolen along with other items.
The college has hired an additional security officer this fall. In the spring of 2007, officials indicated new doors, swipe card locks, door alarms, and video surveillance cameras would be installed in residences halls. These measures were offered in response to the shooting at Virginia Tech.
Although many students may not know about it, there is a way to register their valuables, so that if they are stolen, the items can be traced. Students can go to the campus security office in Wren and fill out a registration of valuables form.
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