Watch out! Students keep an eye on the installation of cameras on campus
Individuals share their perspectives on the installation of cameras on campus.
Bethel College has a unique campus culture, which many students use to their advantage. Students have great freedom on campus, which is utilized by students in many ways, including taking part in the long tradition of pranks on campus. Unfortunately, this freedom is not always used for a good cause.
For many students, the lack of security on campus is a cause for concern, rather than celebration. While some students may enjoy the lack of security to catch them setting toilets on top of buildings, other students worry that the college does nothing to protect their students in the event of a crime.
Bethel is aware of students’ concerns, which is why point D in Priority #5 of the Bethel College Strategic Plan calls for the administration to “take steps towards a safer campus.” One of the first ways in which they plan to do that is with the installation of cameras in the entrances to residence halls on campus over the summer.
Dr. Meshonya Wren-Coleman, known as Dr. MeMe, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, explained that the decision to install cameras was in part due to the recommendation of the Thresher Alert Committee, the goal of which, she said, “is to promote a safe campus environment for the Bethel College community by connecting them to resources and improving security awareness.”
While people do have mixed opinions on the addition of cameras to the Bethel campus, students seemed to be overall supportive of the measures. For some, the added security seems long overdue. Moses Sawatzky, a freshman from Goshen, Indiana, “When I came here, I was surprised that Bethel had managed to hang on this long without having cameras… I think it’s about time that it happened”
April Powls, a junior from Garnett, had similar thoughts. “We've been talking about campus safety for forever and we want something to happen,” she said. “I think this is a step in the right direction.”
“We've been talking about campus safety for forever and we want something to happen,” she said. “I think this is a step in the right direction.”
April Powls
It’s not just students who are aware of the need for greater safety measures on campus, though. Damon Klassen, Director of Theater at Bethel, shared, “I think [the need for security] has been made clear through student feedback, if nothing else… It does seem like a wise, practical, and maybe long-overdue measure. I'm glad to see it.”
Josue Coy Dick, a junior from Newton, doesn’t oppose the introduction of cameras but worries that the fact that students feel the need for greater security is a symptom of deeper issues on the Bethel campus. “When people no longer trust each other, they start looking for security,” he reflected. “What does that say about the community that's being built and developed here at Bethel?”
Klassen feels similar to Coy Dick, but accepts that the idealistic college in which everybody loves each other may not really be possible. “Some people say we don't need precautionary measures because [Bethel] is a warm, welcoming community where everyone knows everyone, but that's just not really reality, and probably never was. I love the idea of us being a small, friendly, welcoming, safe community, but we need to make sure that's really true.”
Some people may be concerned that the introduction of cameras in the entrances to residence halls may impact the “Bubberts Culture” at Bethel. Larry Rice, Director of Residential Life, says that there is no need to fear that surveillance will harm the positive aspects of Bethel. “This is not a situation where someone will be monitoring the cameras 24/7 or acting like ‘big brother.’ This is another tool in hopefully assisting Bethel in providing a safer community.”
“We just want to make sure that our students are taken care of.”
Dr. Meshonya Wren-Coleman
Overall, according to those familiar with the decision to implement cameras, the goal of the installation is not to “get” students who break the rules. The goal is to protect them. Wren-Coleman said, “We just want to make sure that our students are taken care of.”