Public Safety Director Craig Russell Puts. StA~IfA First In 1995, backpack theft was a growing problem outside the cafeteria on Harding campus, so Public Safety installed cameras to help reduce the problem. This new technology was effective, and theft was reduced to almost zero. Since that day, technology that enhanced campus security had continued evolving and improving students' safety under the direction of Public Safety Directors Kevin Davis and Craig Russell. Davis and Russell joined forces with Security Technology Center Manager Ed Daughety and other physical resource personnel this summer, when they began discussing new possibilities for safety technology on campus for the upcoming school year. Their newfound team, the Security Technology Committee, was formed to implement new security features on campus. The most significant improvement made this summer was the installation of proximity card readers in eight dormitories. The proximity card readers replaced the old magnetic swipe locks. At the beginning of the fall semester, every dorm except for Pryor, Shores and Armstrong was equipped with the new system. Preparations were underway for transitioning the remaining dorms to the system as well. "One of the major benefits of this system is that residence hall doors can be controlled by remote use," Davis said. "For example, a Public Safety officer can lock down the front door to Sears Hall with just a few clicks of the mouse from the Public Safety Office across campus. This system allows us better control over our residential facilities and allows us to better ensure the safety and security of our students." Sophomore Mere Rowlett, who lived in Sears Hall, agreed that the new card system helped her feel that she and her belongings were more secure. "With the automatic locking dorm and bedroom doors, I feel safer here than I would in my own home," Rowlett said. These new features were designed to be incorporated where additional security measures were needed. "The technology is expensive, [and] obviously, students want to keep tuition down as low as possible as well," Russell said. "We can't do everything all at once, and we understand that. vVe kind of prioritize what's the most important. The residence halTs where our students live [are] the most important thing." Russell believed safety and security were matters of cooperation; everyone had to be willing to help out. "The best resources that we have [are] still the people we have here at Harding and us watching out for each othe1~" Russell said. "That means that when a student sees something, if they give us a call and let us know what's going on, then together with the students we can make a much safer campus." Ashley Rosenbaum Harold Alexander, Ed.D., Dir. Pro Counsel Nicky Boyd, Ed.D., Dir./Walton Scholars, Career Center, International Students William Bridges, B.S., Manager/Bookstore Mike Chalenburg, B.A., Asst. VP IS&T David Crouch, B.S., Dir./Public Relations Danny DeRamus, B.B.A., Dir./Physical Reso urces Glenn Dillard, B.B.A., Asst. VP/Enrollment Management Ann Dixon, M.L.S., Dir./Brackett Library Tammy Hall, M.B.A., Asst. VP/Finance Greg Harnden, M.A. , Dir./Ath letics Janice Hurd, M.PA., Registrar Don Kee,J.D., Senior Planned Gifts Paula Kirby, B.S., Dir./E. Learn. & Multimedia System John Nunnally, M.S., Mgr./Network Services ITS Craig Russell, M.A., Dir./Public Safety Vickie Walton, Mgr./Heritage Inn Leadership 203 AtuW
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