The students of Alabama State University are dissatisfied.
After receiving news from the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Malinda Swoope on Jan. 30, of the John Garrick Hardy Center’s new hours, students were left devastated with plenty of questions.
The beloved John Garrick Hardy Center, affectionately known as “the union,” is a place of camaraderie and escapism. It is a place where students socialize, eat, complete homework, etc… but due to acts of vandalism, it was snatched from us.
With the announcement of the new hours, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., students have little time to enjoy themselves and relax after a full day of classes.
Before the implementation of these new hours, one would find the union buzzing with students in the late evening. I have remained in the building after 8 p.m. plenty of times and have been able to witness the various activities that take place, from dance practices to Bible studies, students have found many ways to utilize the John Garrick Hardy Center.
I believe that this unfortunate incident can be attributed to the campus’ inefficient security and the presence of “locals.” There are plenty of ways for locals to gain access to the campus. With the proper security, perpetrators would not have been able to access and defile the union. As students who pay the university, we deserve to feel safe and secure on campus. This is why I will be addressing the institution’s flaws in security.
Before I arrived on the campus, I was already made aware of its lack of security. Former and current students expressed displeasure with the insufficiency of safety measures in place.
Montgomery, Alabama is notorious for its exponential crime rate. According to statistics, it is only 9% safer than most neighborhoods in the U.S.
With the university being located in the heart of the city, you would think safety would be a top priority. As you explore the campus, you would see that this is far from the case.
There are a plethora of unattended entrances that would make the campus easily accessible to someone on foot. For example, on the side of campus closest to the old stadium and Robert C. Hatch Hall, there is a small yellow gate that resembles those that are used at primary schools. This is concerning due to the fact that not only is this gate left unattended, but it is also near residence halls.
Harris Way possesses a similar problem. The street that serves our gateway to Ralph David Abernathy Hall and the new football stadium. It is also just a few feet away from the eastern side of campus residence halls. It would not be a challenge for someone to use Hall Street’s entrance as a pathway advantage onto campus.
Another concern would be the absence/shortage of campus police. There should be law enforcement at all entrances on campus as well as the union. This would prevent locals and unwanted guests from finding their way onto campus. It would also prevent wanderers in the union.
A number of students have voiced disappointment with the guards at the main entrance. We understand that campus events are going on, but during those times, the gate is left open which warrants wanted and unwanted visitors. On a regular day, these officers fail to thoroughly check the identification of those entering the premises. I believe that there should be stricter regulations put into place to guarantee that those coming onto campus are students, staff and individuals with some sort of identification.
In closing, all of these flaws in security lead to the daily appearances of locals. They attract negative attention from students with many of them feeling uncomfortable.
The safety of the university’s students should be a number one priority. When parents send their young adults to college, it is already stressful, due to the fact that the parents are no longer there to protect their children. Therefore, the least that the university can do as an institution is provide relief for parents, knowing that their children are safe.