News
Cameras are now strategically installed throughout the Dreyfus University Center. The cameras were installed to ensure that the university kept with credit card standards as well as to deter vandalism and theft. This camera is installed at the Southwest entrance and records images from both corridors.
Look out George Orwell, the University Centers is watching you:
Camera systems installed to keep an eye on credit cards and vandalism on campus
The Pointer
nmeye177@uwsp.edu
A security camera system has been purchased and is in the process of being installed in the Dreyfus University Center as one of the final parts of the construction project for the building.
Cameras will be installed in all areas where credit cards are accepted and where credit card data is transmitted. The payment card industry requires the university to capture images at all locations where credit cards are accepted or data is transmitted.
“We’re trying to follow their guidelines on what we need to do in order to be safe and secure with that information, so that’s where some of the cameras are coming from,” said Laura Ketchum-Ciftci, director of University Centers. “We have to be operational and up to code by this summer, so that’s why we’re trying to get everything done that we need done. “
The locations that will be covered for these purposes include the Information and Ticket Center, the University Bursar’s Office, the University Store and text rental and the dining services areas. Cameras will also be installed in areas where credits cards may potentially be accepted.
Cameras will be placed in the public areas of the DUC, Student Involvement and Employment Office, and the building entrance and exit points by request from the Policy and Advisory Committee for Student Organizations as well.
“[In] the lower level of the DUC, we have 24-hour access for student organizations, and having cameras down there for safety and security makes sense,” said Ketchum-Ciftci.
Once cameras are installed, signage will be placed in areas stating that video recording is occurring.
However, the cameras will not be monitored in real time. All images will be captured and stored on a database to be monitored by Information Technology. Director of IT David Dumke and the Director of Protective Services Bill Rowe will be the only individuals allowed to view recorded images at this time.
Dumke and Rowe have been designated by the Provost Mark Nook to be in charge of all security cameras on campus. They will review requests for cameras and review footage as needed after incidents.
“They’re not for safety on the spur-of-the-moment; they aren’t monitored. We review the content in the event of an occurrence or situation,” said Dumke.
Besides meeting regulations set by the payment card industry, Ketchum-Ciftci hopes that the cameras will deter vandalism and increase student safety around the building.
“When we didn’t have our cameras up the last few months, we’ve had some issues with vandalism,” she said. “Typically in the past with a camera that [was] operational, we’d be able to address that more directly.”
Cameras were in place in the DUC before the renovations. This time around, staff worked hard to make sure to set a standard for the cameras and to make sure all the regulations outlined in the Faculty Senate policy regarding security cameras was followed.
“I made sure that happened, that we chose one standard rather than multiple, and it would meet the requirements of the policy for security,” said Dumke.
According to Dumke individuals from IT and some of the users who turned in requests came together to decide on the appropriate system.
“The selection process took us quite awhile; it was a matter of defining requirements and then looking at possible vendors and seeing demonstrations,” said Dumke. “It was probably an eight-month process.”
The group looked into which cameras they could handle, what they could accomplish as far as being able to see certain resolutions and capture certain things, as well as storage and review of the content. The decision was then made to purchase the system from On-net Surveillance Systems, Inc. The cameras are being paid for by student segregated fees.
“It’s a system that’s used extensively by police departments and airports and stuff like that; it’s a very high end, not expensive, but quality system,” said Dumke.
A request for cameras has also been turned in by the communicative disorders department to be used for academic purposes. According to Dumke, if more requests for cameras are made and granted, the system is simple enough, and more cameras could be added by IT staff.
Cameras already in place at the Allen and Debot Centers will be wired into the same system as the DUC cameras.
