Tampa has been in the spotlight in the last couple weeks, leaving our campus in the shadow of both Gasparilla and the Super Bowl.
In preparation for the large crowds gathering in and around campus for both events, Campus Safety and Security sent out two Global Messages to forewarn students about campus road closures and tighter-than-usual security.
Entering campus was similar to trying to gain access to a secure military base, which’ should have’ made students feel safe.
Let’s not forget security’s large responsibility during the ‘Today Show,’ Republican Debate coverage last spring and both visits by Senator John McCain during his campaign.
They worked with TPD and Secret Service not only to protect the celebrities and’ candidates, but also’ the students.
It is distressing, however, to see that the recent alleged sexual assault occurred for a second time on Gasparilla Day in the past three years.
Assistant Director of Safety and Security Kevin Howell could only respond by saying that there was not enough manpower.
He said it would take triple the size of the current staff to adequately protect campus during a 24-hour period when nearly half a million people invade downtown Tampa.
Howell did not explicitly say that campus security is understaffed or he ever asked administration for more staff members.
We must keep in mind however that Campus Safety and Security is not responsible for the irresponsibility of students. They can only do so much even if they had an infinite amount of resources.
The main issue which may concern the student body is the idea that the Assistant Director of Security knows there was not enough manpower yet could not do anything about it even if he personally felt his staff could not handle the situation properly.
Is it possible that the funds necessary to protect the campus community are not there for the disposal of someone who has the experience and knows what is best for the campus?
The Minaret can’t say for sure, but what we do know is that security should be left to those who can handle the job properly.’
Many members of the security force are former members of police departments and have experience dealing with things like this. UT’s security force is trained to use deadly weapons, which many campuses do not permit.
For the most part, this is a safe campus.
When half a million drunken pirates invade the surrounding neighborhoods, it becomes nearly impossible to patrol every corner of campus.
But the problem is that the assistant director of security, a former high-ranking TPD officer, says that he needs more people on his staff.
Would more security guards have a significant’ impact the other 364 days of the year?’ Maybe, but probably not. Most days, campus is well patrolled. Crime statistics show UT is a safer place than surrounding neighborhoods, and certainly safer than the entire city of Tampa.
Even if it means hiring 20 temporary security guards, just for Gasparilla, it makes perfect sense to expand the security force for high-risk days.
The safety of the university’s chief customers — the students — is most at risk those days.
We entrust the university to protect us. We hope they can. And we hope they will.
“