A safer campus is what the Student Government Association of Saint Louis University asked for at last night’s meeting.

After detailed discussion with Jack Titone, director of Public Safety, the SGA passed a resolution requesting “the department of Public Safety address the issue of crimes committed on SLU surface parking lots, and to provide suggestion on ways to improve campus security.”

“I came to give accurate information about the Department of Public Safety,” Titone began.

He said the increase in crime in the past year has more to do with logistics than actual crime increase. “We’re not only covering University property as we were, but also property contiguous to the University,” Titone said. “The increase is because there is more area to report.”

While the director of DPS admits he is proud of the drastic reduction in automobile thefts this semester, he said he will not be happy until there are no thefts to report.

“Everybody perceives us to be a dangerous community because we’re in the middle of St. Louis,” he said. However, an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch supports Titone’s claim that as a campus, SLU reports fewer crimes than Washington University, Fontbonne College and University of Missouri-Columbia.

Titone is quick to point out that most of the reported crimes involve stereos, CDs and other such items stolen from automobiles.

“These crimes can be prevented,” Titone said. “If you have a custom stereo, don’t leave it in your car overnight. You’re just asking for someone to break in and steal it.”

Stressing the issue that DPS has no jurisdiction over any location other than SLU property, Titone said that he is trying to get their authority expanded to stop, detain and talk to suspicious individuals on the city streets.

One of the major suggestions from the SGA was to implement the use of cameras in all of the parking lots. However, this issue has been previously addressed as “not cost effective” by someone in the administration.

Titone explained that with the large number of parking lots on campus, approximately 12 new officers would need to be hired simply to watch the cameras. “I would rather have those officers on campus,” he said.

Also, the cameras in garages are focused on entrances, exits and walkways for the security of those people in the garages, not to monitor cars. “We use cameras to record historical data, not to necessarily stop crimes in action,” Titone said. “Who could watch six monitors for eight hours each night?”

Other suggestions in the resolution included: randomized patrols of the lots to prevent planned criminal activity and installation of a security booth on the west end of campus.

Senator Peter Brokish, Arts and Sciences, said the resolution sparked interest and thought. “It’s just the beginning of improving safety,” he said.

Also in favor of the resolution was Senator Nick Fagan, Business School, who agreed with Titone’s idea of student responsibility.

“We’re not all country bumpkins,” Fagan said. “We know the area we live; we’re in a high-crime area. People need to lock up their stuff.”

While most senators voiced positive arguments for the resolution, Adam Altman, undergraduate commuter senator, voiced his opinions. “I don’t feel I know if it’s our [SGA] place to tell the DPS director how to do his job,” he said.

The resolution was agreed to despite some opposition.

Other Business

Rights for student workers will have to wait another month. Although it has been in the works for several weeks, a bill requesting the University to accept and implement a policy documenting student-worker rights was tabled until Jan. 17, 2001.

After questions about Missouri being a fire-at-will state, SGA President Jay Perry confirmed the policy’s position. “That is the law, but we can, as a private institution, pass this policy,” Perry said.

However, concerns about who the policy actually affects led to discussion.

Senator Angela Haas, Graduate Commuter, co-authored the bill and said it should include any student who gets a paycheck from the University.

Haas later clarified that this policy only applies to student workers and not necessarily faculty who might be enrolled in courses.

“I don’t feel it’s my job to decide who should be covered and who shouldn’t be covered,” Haas said.

Fagan motioned to table the bill until the next meeting. “My main thing is I want to add the qualifications of who will and won’t be covered by this policy,” he said.

The bill was then tabled.

Later in the meeting, Fagan attempted to untable the bill with qualifications listed by senators. However, the motion to untable the bill was not approved by the senate.

Following the student-worker policy, another student organization received its charter. The bill to charter the Men’s Soccer Club was approved.

Administrative Vice President Chad Kreikemeier submitted the bill. “We have a men’s volleyball club, a women’s volleyball club, a women’s soccer club. It’s only fair to pass the men’s soccer club,” he said. The bill was approved unanimously.

The Senate considered placing a moratorium on the approval of new student organizations due to the increasing number requesting charters.