Photo by Gregory Veen (gregveen) via flickr
A quick comment on feasibility:
Your student government has a yearly budget of $11+ million. The average, quality metal detector costs roughly $4- to $5 thousand. Generally, surpluses do occur, in which case your student government could begin a program regarding campus safety and educating students on how to handle an active shooter alert. Investing in safety techniques is virtually free. Simply talk to the police department/campus police and have them hold presentations.
Being a commuter school, you have plenty of visitors every day, to a library or otherwise. With no regard to the crazy acts of violence, metal detectors are about as common when walking into a building as you hitting traffic at anytime of the day. Late to class? Leave earlier. Insanity is defined as… well, I’m sure Bryan Morera (the author of the last Letter to the Editor) knows, as he’s a poli-sci major.
My school has weekly issues with crime. Metal detectors don’t stop crimes, but they add a sense of security. At the end of the day, I’m pretty sure Bryan would rather have the ability to send a Letter to the Editor than deal with a crisis that might determine life or death. Maybe that’s just me.
Seriously, though, look into preventative techniques and training for campus — it’s something to consider. SGA will back you up if you structure your idea. And even if you disagree with the metal detector argument/cameras, or come up with something more cost-effective. It could save lives.
I conclude with two quotations from one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin:
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain — and most fools do.”
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Nick Pappe
Super Duper Senior/Double Major Music/Psychology/Beard Grower
opinion@fiusm.com
Sources:
1. “School shootings compromise security and privacy,” FIUSM.com
2. “Letter to the Editor: School Security,” via FIUSM.com
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