Department of Security weathers change

Director McDaniel resigned in October

The Department of Security had a tumultuous year as its leadership changed hands in the face of charges of racism and student discontent.

In October, Director of Security Richard McDaniel resigned from his post effective immediately after meeting with President Nancy Dye the day before.

"I am resigning to pursue other professional and personal interests," McDaniel said after he resigned.

After the resignation, Joe DiChristina, assistant dean of residential life, was appointed by Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk to be the interim director of security.

Immediately following the resignation, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Services Ken Holmes filled the post until DiChristina took over.

"People were up in the air when I came in Monday. The staff was very welcoming when I came in. They just wanted to know who the person in charge was and who to share concerns with," DiChristina said after taking over the position.

Following a search this spring and visits to campus by the two finalists, Frank Wiley and Keith James, James was chosen as the new director. He will begin his job on July 1.

After the resignation, a search committee was formed that included faculty, professional staff and students. The committee received 105 applications and began interviewing candidates in March.

Secure style: Officer Gary Kriesen poses with the new Blazer. (photo by David Reeves)

The two final candidates visited campus in mid-April to meet with students, staff and faculty.

Before the visits, DiChristina said that he was hoping for a lot of student input. "The more people we have come out and talk with the candidates, the better match," he said in early April.

These hopes proved to be overly ambitious. The student sessions of the candidate's visits were very poorly attended, drawing only a handful of students each.

After the visits, the search committee evaluated the candidates and chose James. He is currently the director of security at Wooster College

James' major goal, he said, is making the department true to its mission to serve students' safety and security. "I think that would be one of the overriding philosophies in terms of practicing community type security," James said.

"I think we have done a lot to restore faith in the department," Cole-Newkirk said about the changes in the department over the year.

Student discontent with the Department surfaced in early October when protesters walked into an open forum between Security officials and students. Approximately 70 members of Abusua, Oberlin's black student union, accused the department, and the Oberlin Police Department of racism.

Abusua members were concerned with an incident in which a student complaining of racial harassmentwas told that there was nothing that Security could do. The student was just given the number of the Oberlin Police Department.

Staff of the Department of Security were angry about the accusations, which they felt were unfounded. "I don't think that there was any validity in [the accusations]. We don't treat any one group differently than another,"dispatcher Jane McCarthy said.

"The thing I find irresponsible and bigoted is that we were not at any time consulted or invited to a meeting about us," Carrie Berman, sophomore and student cadet, said.

In response to the discontent towards Security, Cole-Newkirk developed a 12-point plan to improve security. The plan included adding multicultural education for the department, establishing a bike patrol, improving lighting and increasing diversity through the hiring process. According to DiChristina, some of the points of the plan were aimed specifically at McDaniel.

Escorts

The department, under the leadership of DiChristina also faced a number of non-personnel challenges this year. A series of assaults and flasher incidents raised concerns about campus safety. (see story page 13.)

The department also weathered controversy over new escort policies. In early February, DiChristina proposed stricter guidelines that excluded escorts between off-campus locations. He also proposed refusal of escorts to more than two students and intoxicated students.

These proposals met with opposition from students who felt that they denied services to those that need them most.

Sophomore Cory Wallace said, "As far as not transporting off-campus, that's ridiculous. If something is going to happen, it will probably happen in Tappan, not North Quad."

In response to these concerns, DiChristina met in April and May with a subcommittee of the Feminist Majority about setting up a student escort service that would be implemented next year.

While still in the planning stages, the service would be provided by student volunteers as well as the student cadets already employed by the department. DiChristina said that escorts are "certainly a need and a legitimate request," but he pointed out the need for officers to be available for other services.

Cole-Newkirk said that establishing a student escort service is a top priority for her and the department as a whole next year. She said that possibilities include student cadet escorts and purchasing carts.

In light of recent transformations in the department, it changed its official name in mid-March from Oberlin College Security to Oberlin College Safety and Security. According to DiChristina the inclusion of Safety reflects the department's role in personal safety as well as building and property security.

DiChristina said that the department has focused on issues of staff training, the needs of the student body and discussion of its role in conjunction with the Oberlin Police and Fire Departments.

In looking for ways to improve the department, Cole-Newkirk brought an outside security consultant to campus in mid-February to evaluate the department. Bill Bess, the consultant, met with students who expressed concern over escorts and lighting. Dye, members of the Security Department, Holmes, residents of Baldwin Cottage and Afrikan Heritage House and members of the Oberlin Police Department also met with Bess.

According to DiChristina and Cole-Newkirk, Bess's report has been received, and a committee will be formed to evaluate it and look at options for implementing the recommendations.

Cole-Newkirk said that the report has not yet been submitted to the president, so it could not be released. She said, however, that she felt the report was a good blueprint for the new director. "Overall the recommendations are not radical," she said.

"I think he thinks we have a fine department," Cole-Newkirk said.

She said that James, as the new director, will be able to continue the work of DiChristina. She named programs such as bike patrols, developing clearer relationships with the town police and educating officers about the diversity of students as goals for the upcoming year.