Faculty respond to forum questions
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    SE Campus administration and faculty responded to inquiries given during spring student forums in a 15-page document posted on the bulletin board downstairs in the E wing of the campus.

   Key issues included book prices, campus security and participation in student organizations.

   Students John Kersner and Joel Barona developed a Web site for student book exchanges and sales. The site became functional this summer, and by fall they hope to have the technical bugs worked out. The address is www.studentcomputerorganization@geocities.com.

   Recently, Kersner contacted area businesses regarding contributions and donations to maintain the Web site.

   “All that is needed is $200 to maintain it for a year; then it could be free to students, and all it would need is a student here to make sure it operates properly,” he said.

   The pair hope the Web site will be self-sufficient because students would be responsible for the exchange. The Web site would serve as a place where books could be advertised and prices negotiated.

   Students also expressed concern regarding campus security.

   Campus security, including personal safety and theft, are issues constantly being addressed, Rusty Fox, dean of student development and student services, summarized in the written response.

   Cpl. C.D. Williams, campus police department, agreed, adding that all the officers do as much as they can to deter crime.

   “The campus police have been doing more foot patrols outside the building, and the patrol cars move frequently to watch the outside of the school. We want to make sure we’re getting out around the campus and talking to people,” he said.

   Recently, SE has experienced a slight spike in vehicle burglaries, but in the past, according to the Annual Security Report issued by the TCC Police Department, SE Campus has only had one year of incidence of burglary. Violent, alcohol and drug-related crime have not occurred, Williams said.

   This fall, Williams hopes to avert vehicle burglaries and return to previous years’ records.

   Theft of personal belongings within the school is a continuing dilemma.

   Problematic areas include the entrance of the bookstore, where students are required to leave their belongings while shopping, and locker rooms.

   “We try to get students to put locks on their lockers, keep valuables in their trunk and not leave their belongings around the school and expect them to still be there when they return,” he said.

   Williams believes simple prevention methods in conjunction with routine checks by the police can deter theft on SE.

   Cameras, which were suggested by a student, have been considered in the past, but the administration and police department do not see them as being cost efficient or very effective. The money and personnel would likely exceed their usefulness because of hiring someone to monitor or review the tapes and actually placing the cameras in positions where the viewing range would be effective, Williams said.

   A lack of student unity in extracurricular college life is a problem because it deprives them of experiencing a full campus life, many students voiced.

   While some students argue there are not enough activities to unite them, others contend no one is showing up for the extracurricular activities already in place.

   Therese Kerfoot, president of the College Republicans and Phi Theta Kappa vice president, stressed that the campus methods of distributing information were causing rifts in organization leaders’ ability to communicate with the student body.

   “I think people aren’t aware of what is going on. People don’t become involved because of how the school gives notices. The bulletin boards are so cluttered it’s organized ineffectively,” she said.

   The inability to distribute flyers directly to students or post information in restrooms and a lack of a single stationary board with dates and times exacerbate the problem, Kerfoot said.

   Kristi Mosley and multiple student organization officers concurred.

   “Participation is a problem. The bulletin boards aren’t read. Students are so busy with school, work and their lives they don’t realize what they are missing.

   “If participation keeps declining, it will definitely become more of a problem because the groups cannot function,” Mosley said.