^ The Voice, For Students, By Students | Febnjary 8, 2012 | issuu.com/fsuvoice | send news tips to the editor; thevoice.fsu@gmail.com
UPA
continued from page 1
“Most of the stolen items were electronics
that could be grabbed quickly,” Johnson said.
Keep records of serial numbers
Fortunately, serial numbers of the electron
ics could lead to apprehending the perpetra
tors, police said. It is possible one number
could link all the thefts together, FSU Police
and Public Safety Chief Hassell said. Pawn
shops are required to provide serial numbers
to local law enforcement, he explained. FSU
collaborates with the City of Fayetteville Po
lice Department.
“The one time someone slips up could be
the break we need,” Hassell said.
Hassell stressed the importance of keeping
a record of serial numbers. He said regretta
bly most college students do not keep records
of serial numbers. “When students are mov
ing into their rooms they usually stress over
which classes they’re taking or registration
issues, not serial numbers,” he said.
Hassell and FSU police Lt. Johnson said
presently the department’s number one con
cern is getting the word out for students to
record and identify their important personal
belongings. Students are still turning in serial
numbers from the Dec. 18 burglaries.
“It’s never too late to bring any informa
tion that could provide a break in the case,”
added Johnson, but the best actions appear to
be pre-emptive.
Campus police provide students with sensi
tive item forms, along with crime prevention
forms and pamphlets, when they are moving
onto campus. The department also has proce
dures in place for sensitive item documenta
tion storage, Johnson said. Sadly, even those
students who may keep a record of their sen
sitive items with the police department are
likely to neglect updating when they sell a
TV or buy a new computer.
Crime Reporting Procedures
Some rooms were broken into with no
signs of theft. Cherice Washington was not
among the lucky ones. Washington was vis
iting her family out of state for the holidays
when she received a phone call from a fellow
student.
“He told me about a break-in at UPA and
suggested 1 check with FSU Dept. Residence
Life to see if my room was involved,” Wash
ington said. “I immediately contacted them
and they said my name was on a list of stu
dents they planned to notify.” This was Dec.
20, two days after the last police report was
filed.
Washington expressed concern towards
FSU official’s handling of information. “I’m
400 miles from campus and (RL) is telling
me my room was broken into and that’s it,”
Washington exclaimed. “I spoke with at least
ten other victims and no statement was is
sued!”
Washington was told she could go through
her room and document stolen items as long
as it was done within 24 hours because the
staff’s break was about to begin. Being that
Washington was 400 miles away from FSU,
this obviously presented a problem. She said
she contacted SGA and tried to coordinate
for a friend to go in her place but was turned
down. Eventually, an RA was allowed to con
duct a general sweep for her.
“[The thieves] went through all my stuff,”
Washington explained. She said she was con
tinually fhistrated with residence life. “They
gave me the run around,” Washington said.
“I got broken into and I’m jumping through
hoops! I believe they were callous, vague,
and inconsiderate of the situation! I’m not
bashing the University, but we need to work
on the definite lack of communication!”
Washington said. If not for the SGA, Wash
ington said she believed the issues would
have fallen on “deaf ears.”
SGA Senator-at-Large Foy learned of the
incident on Twitter®, information she said
should have been distributed to the entire
student body rather than seemingly brushed
under the rug. “[The University] was just tak
ing student’s serial numbers. It looked like
students weren’t being informed,” Foy said.
It’s possible that students’ frustration is a
result of confusion between campus police
and residence life’s roles when it pertains to
reporting crimes. When asked if she contact
ed the FSU Police, Washington said residence
life is considered the first responder.
Washington said she didn’t even know the
procedure for filing a police report and hadn’t
spoken with the FSU Police until the second
week of classes when they started taking se
rial numbers. She said FSU police seem more
reactive than proactive. “I’m not sure what
their role is regarding the situation but I con
sider them more security than protection,”
Washington said. Further, she added “UPA
isn’t given the same protection as the dorms
on campus.”
Renter’s Insurance
In addition to safety, Washington expressed
another concern about the lack of information
given to students about renter’s insurance in
the UPA.
“In the dorms you have regular meetings
and I distinctively remember discussing rent
er’s insurance options,” Washington said. “In
UPA there are no hall meetings or method of
communication.” Understandably, most col
lege students don’t consider or even know
about renter’s insurance.
Student government representa
tive Foy shared Washington’s con
cerns about implementing more
security in UPA and educating
students about renter’s insurance
“I’d like to see a mass e-mail about
renter’s insurance sent out to the
students every semester,” Foy said.
Unsure if all residence halls con
duct renter’s insurance meetings,
both students agreed it should be a
mandatory subject for discussion.
Regular Communication is the Key
The most effective venue for such issues
could be the upcoming meetings FSU Police
and Public Safefy Chief Hassell has coordi
nated with UPA and SGA staff. Representa
tives of SGA have already spoken with Has
sell and he has expressed the department’s
intent to work with the student body. As pre
viously stated, campus police’s first concern
is to inform students regarding the impor
tance of documentation copy and storage at
the department.
Further, Hassell said he hopes more student
organizations as well as individuals reach out
to the department. “We can’t address issues
that aren’t brought to oiu- attention,” he said.
The meetings with UPA managers, the De
partment of Police and Public Safety, and the
SGA will discuss upcoming breaks as well
as preparation and response procedures to be
implemented 2-3 days before breaks begin. In
the future, these meetings may lead to open
forums for the entire student body.
Additionally, Hassell reiterated that he wel
comes and encourages increased interaction
from students, including following-up with
the FSU Police regularly, as police are open
to student opinion.
“We’re always accessible, providing safety
tips and identification forms and taking a pro
active stance towards keeping students safe,”
added FSU Police and Public Safety Lt. John
son.
Courtesy of uncfsu.edu
TUITION continued from page 1
students or affect student enrolhnent, Botley
said.
FSU is the least expensive college in the
UNC system. The cost of attendance varies
depending on the student’s number of credit
hours, whether they live on or off campus,
and their state of residency. The average cost
for an in-state undergraduate student living
on campus is $12,826. The cost for an out-
of-state student is $23,438.
FSU officials do not expect the proposed
tuition increase to have a devastating impact
on students or affect student enrollment, Bot
ley said.
Correction
Around and
About FSU
By Jennifer Lucas
Voice Editor-in-Chief
Facility Troubles
Last week two buildings on campus were temporarily shut
down due to facility troubles. The Rosenthal Building was
evacuated on the morning of Jan. 31 due to an unusual gas
odor. Students, faculty and staff were barred from entering
the building for approximately 30 minutes until the authori
ties deemed the building safe for re-entry, according to FSU
Director of Public Relations Jeffery Womble.
The following morning, on Feb. I, the Telecommunications
Buildmg was without water due to a broken wateriine. The
repairs on the wateriine were completed later the same after
noon, said FSU HVAC Supervisor, Michael McKinnon.
FSU Bowling Coach scores 600th ClAA record win
FSU Bowling Coach Bobby Henderson earned his 600th
CL\A record win when the ladies bowling team beat Johnson
. Smith on Jan. 29 at B&B Lanes. Next, Henderson has his
si^ts set on Mother division title, a third CIAA champion
ship, and leading his team to the NCAA tournament, accord
ing to an article in the Fayetteville Observer. To read the full
story, refer to fayovserver.eom/articles/20I2/01/30/l 153914.
Lactation room available for nursing mothers
ursing mothers now have access to a private lactation
rwm in Williams Hall Room 215. The room is open Monday
tnrou^ Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. FSU officials opened the
room last week to comply with the Federal Fair Labor Stan-
tods Act (FLSA) and the Office of State Personnel Lactation
Support Policy.