{"id":2993,"date":"2012-08-20T15:41:59","date_gmt":"2012-08-20T23:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.gonzaga.edu\/campo\/?p=2993"},"modified":"2012-08-21T10:27:43","modified_gmt":"2012-08-21T18:27:43","slug":"a-letter-to-new-zags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.gonzaga.edu\/campo\/2012\/08\/20\/a-letter-to-new-zags\/","title":{"rendered":"A letter to new Zags"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Greetings from Gonzaga Campus Public Safety & Security!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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As a way of introduction, we\u2019d like to share with you a little about our Department, the challenges we face, where to find some good resources for information about security and safety on and around campus, and a personal invitation to stop by and visit us or call us to discuss any concerns you may have.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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In a nutshell\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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Our department consists of 19 full-time staff members committed to making the educational experience at Gonzaga a positive one. Our leadership team has a combined 135 years of security, law enforcement and emergency management experience.\u00a0 We employ several students on our team to assist us in the business office, parking enforcement, crime prevention projects, and in our communications center.\u00a0 For special events such as dances, we contract for additional security. And, during high traffic periods in the surrounding neighborhood, we contract Spokane Police for neighborhood patrols. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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We provide a variety of services, including security escorts, 24\/7\/365. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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It\u2019s not the neighborhood\u2026.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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The vast majority of the crime we see on and around the Gonzaga campus is what is commonly termed \u201cproperty crime\u201d. This includes theft, burglary, and vehicle prowling. The Logan Neighborhood sometimes gets a bad rap from students as an inherently bad neighborhood (for property crime). I often tell the students \u201csorry, it\u2019s not the neighborhood, it\u2019s you\u201d. \u00a0Criminals are opportunistic. \u00a0They know that Gonzaga students (and college students in general) often have easy to steal (and sell) valuables like laptops and Ipods \u2013 and they know that students who live in the neighborhood are notoriously bad about locking their doors. In fact, most of the criminals who are caught on and around campus are not from the neighborhood \u2013 they just come here because of the opportunities. They know that many of us leave valuables unattended or in plain view in our vehicles. They\u2019ll walk though the library and office areas looking for unattended laptops, backpacks, and purses. Or cruise parked cars looking for tempting items. Again, it\u2019s all about opportunity \u2013 and reducing opportunity. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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A particular challenge on college campuses is bike theft. Many students, staff, and faculty like to commute on and around campus by bike. Cable locks are almost useless in deterring the theft of an expensive bike. Thieves come armed with pocket-sized cable and bolt cutters. Even U-Locks can be compromised with a little effort by bolt cutters, pneumatic jacks, and cordless metal saws. Our best advice to those who want to ride: <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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