Security officer resigns after schedule conflict

13 year veteran's resignation effective immediately

Safety and Security Officer Angelique Yost formally resigned as a security officer last week, citing conflicts with security management.

In a letter dated Oct. 28, Yost stated to Director of Safety and Security Keith James that she would be resigning. Yost issued another letter to President Nancy Dye on Oct. 28 detailing her reasons for leaving, some of which involved conflicts with James.

Yost, who had worked for security since 1985 when she started as a part-time officer, became a full-time employee in 1987 and remained full-time until she took a medical leave of absence 11 months ago.

Upon her request to return to active duty, Yost was informed that her old shift of 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. with Sundays and Mondays off would be slightly modified with Tuesdays and Wednesdays off instead.

In her letter to Dye, Yost said, "I was placed on the evening shift with Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. I know for a fact that the evening schedule is Sundays and Mondays off. I contacted my union representative, Christine Diewald, after I learned that the schedule I requested was given to a person that was just hired this year, a person with less seniority than I. Obviously supervision is doing everything they can to hinder my return."

In response to Yost's complaint about scheduling, James said, "Angel never gave me an opportunity to discuss it with her. The first time I learned of her dissatisfaction was with her resignation letter."

Assistant Director of Safety and Security Marjorie Burton spoke with Yost concerning the change in her shift. Burton said, "I explained to her that the shift had been changed to fit the needs of the College."

Yost also criticized James' elimination of the Crime Prevention Officer position, a position that Yost held.

"As it stands now, the services that were once provided to the students as part of the crime prevention area are no longer in existence. It was not until the recent attack took place that Mr. James had a supervisor conduct the Safety Talks that he had eliminated."

James noted that before the position was eliminated, two senior officers, one supervisor and Yost worked the day shift. James explained that the Crime Prevention position was eliminated because Yost worked a day shift, while most crime prevention programs take place in the evening. "Angel, being unable to work in the evening, handicapped the program," said James.

James' intention with crime prevention was to spread the responsibilities of crime prevention among all of the security officers. "We didn't want one officer responsible for all crime prevention. We worked to educate the entire staff," said James.

"Mr. James never distributed the Community Service/Crime Prevention duties among the officers as was agreed upon," wrote Yost in her letter.

James disagreed with this assessment. He said, "If you look at reports before and look at reports now, all staff is making an effort to educate the community."

Yost further criticized James for two incidents involving her job responsibilities. The first incident concerned the placement of Erik Halgrimson on the trespass list. Halgrimson, a former Oberlin student, has been charged with stalking another student. "Mr. James refused to place Halgrimson on trespass, stating that I took my Crime Prevention too seriously and that I was to inform the female student Eric Halgrimson was stalking that he, Mr. James, would not issue a trespass letter."

Halgrimson was later placed on the trespass list. James said, "I cannot recall the details of that."

The other incident involved Yost's response to a parking problem at Tank Co-op. A situation between Yost and a student's parent resulted in the parent filing a complaint with Safety and Security. "I did not get personally involved, but the parent thought that Angel Yost had yelled at her. I think in the investigation Angel was exonerated," said James.

Yost is feeling frustrated with the handling of the two incidences. "Mr. James took it upon himself to do what he stated he would do. That was, to make the life of whoever crossed him miserable."

James said, "In actuality, I thought she felt relieved that we understood one another. When a parent makes a complaint like that, we have to take it seriously."

Yost expressed some reluctance in her resignation. "Working with the students at Oberlin was my life. I am thankful for that opportunity. I do regret not having an opportunity to work under the leadership of Deb McNish," Yost said.