The college finally agreed to implement the security measures we demanded. I am drained from this long haul but relief is starting to set in. Keep an eye on the building entrances to ensure these safety protocols actually hold up over time.
August 5, 2015
Final supporters
BACKGROUND:
McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul provides performance and technical education for roughly 500 part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Since 1985, the college has seen constant growth and change, evolving to what is now a prominent contemporary music education facility. While there has been much improvement in the overall development of the college, security is the one particular area that is lacking.
Given its location downtown and adjacent to the new light rail system, there have been incidents of students being accosted, some serious enough to warrant police reports. Students, faculty and staff feel threatened by unwanted advances from transients and panhandlers, tires have been slashed on students' cars, entrances to the school are often blocked, and some faculty members report feeling uneasy enough that they remain in the building until someone comes to accompany them to their car. Warmer weather has meant an increase in the transient population who appear to be emboldened by the lack of security. The Saint Paul police department has acknowledged a growing problem and has increased the number of police officers on patrol in response. Although a greater police presence is always welcome, that alone has done nothing to resolve the day to day problems encountered on campus. Since the college is open until midnight, well beyond normal business hours, students leaving the building in the evening feel even more vulnerable.
Currently, the only security at McNally Smith is comprised of students and Campus Resource employees who are neither trained for nor should be expected to handle security issues. Repeated attempts to reinstate full-time security personnel through staff requests and budget proposals have been rejected by the board due to funding considerations. Although the school can make accommodations for lack of resources in other departments, security is an area that cannot be compromised. It is an issue that directly affects the safety of the students, faculty and staff, and as such represents not only a threat to their wellbeing but also constitutes a definite liability to the college.
PETITION:
We, the undersigned, call for the immediate reinstatement of professional security personnel at McNally Smith College of Music during all hours of operation.
Updates
May 24, 2015
We hit one hundred signatures today. It is exhausting to keep pushing for something that should be a basic expectation, but your backing keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
May 23, 2015
58 Comments
We definitely need more security around the school. I carry pepper spray on me constantly and have a first degree black belt but I still don't feel safe walking back home at night. This should be a top priority. Our students, faculty, staff, and guests deserve to feel safe.
As a visitor, I have noticed more transient individuals in the area. No student, staff or visitor should have to be fearful of attending or working at this academic institution.
While we've been fortunate so far, there have been multiple incidents over the past few years which could easily have gotten out of hand very quickly. Is this a difficult addition to a thin budget? Yes. But it's also important, considering the evolution of the surrounding post-light-rail environment.
yes, as a student body, we can act as the school security. But this is an unreliable source of protection. Especially with an urban surrounding, the school needs professionals.
as a former staff member and alum who, via circumstance, was forced to step in on multiple security issues to try to ensure safety for students and fellow staff, I can verify that the lack of security is a glaring gap in an otherwise good campus environment. The school would be very wise to bring security back on and properly address these concerns.
Music gear is usually the most precious thing a musician can own, livelihoods and dreams are at stake, secure the facility!
Dear students, parents, and colleagues: I am writing to inform all members of the McNally Smith community that the college has decided to take steps to provide a uniformed, professional security presence on campus. We know that safety and security has become a growing concern within our community, and we want to be responsive to our students, their parents, and fellow colleagues on any and all issues that pertain to safety. Please know that campus security is of the utmost importance to us, and we have never taken these issues lightly. We are in regular communication with the St. Paul Police Department seeking their help, support, and advice on how to improve the security of our campus environment. Following their advice, we installed an extensive network of video cameras, electronic door locks, and have a very active campus security committee, all of which have contributed to campus safety. To further ensure the safety of our students and visitors at this time, we will be contracting with an outside firm to provide additional security measures. Specifically, we will have two security guards regularly patrolling campus. This service is tentatively planned to begin during the week of June 1 and will provide coverage Monday through Friday when the college is in session, as well as during some weekends and special events. Also, as a reminder, we currently offer shuttle service that runs every half hour Monday through Friday from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, as needed, during the summer semester, and seven days a week during the fall and spring. Safety or security concerns can be sent to Campus Safety Director Jeff Aalbers at 651-361-3320 ([email protected]). More information regarding campus safety and security, including tips for staying safe in downtown St. Paul while attending McNally Smith, can be found online at www. Mcnallysmith.edu/safety-security. A college is a highly complex environment and the decisions to allocate resources are never ea
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The college finally agreed to implement the security measures we demanded. I am drained from this long haul but relief is starting to set in. Keep an eye on the building entrances to ensure these safety protocols actually hold up over time.
August 5, 2015
Final supporters
BACKGROUND:
McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul provides performance and technical education for roughly 500 part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Since 1985, the college has seen constant growth and change, evolving to what is now a prominent contemporary music education facility. While there has been much improvement in the overall development of the college, security is the one particular area that is lacking.
Given its location downtown and adjacent to the new light rail system, there have been incidents of students being accosted, some serious enough to warrant police reports. Students, faculty and staff feel threatened by unwanted advances from transients and panhandlers, tires have been slashed on students' cars, entrances to the school are often blocked, and some faculty members report feeling uneasy enough that they remain in the building until someone comes to accompany them to their car. Warmer weather has meant an increase in the transient population who appear to be emboldened by the lack of security. The Saint Paul police department has acknowledged a growing problem and has increased the number of police officers on patrol in response. Although a greater police presence is always welcome, that alone has done nothing to resolve the day to day problems encountered on campus. Since the college is open until midnight, well beyond normal business hours, students leaving the building in the evening feel even more vulnerable.
Currently, the only security at McNally Smith is comprised of students and Campus Resource employees who are neither trained for nor should be expected to handle security issues. Repeated attempts to reinstate full-time security personnel through staff requests and budget proposals have been rejected by the board due to funding considerations. Although the school can make accommodations for lack of resources in other departments, security is an area that cannot be compromised. It is an issue that directly affects the safety of the students, faculty and staff, and as such represents not only a threat to their wellbeing but also constitutes a definite liability to the college.
PETITION:
We, the undersigned, call for the immediate reinstatement of professional security personnel at McNally Smith College of Music during all hours of operation.
Updates
May 24, 2015
We hit one hundred signatures today. It is exhausting to keep pushing for something that should be a basic expectation, but your backing keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
May 23, 2015
58 Comments
I have gone to Mcnally since 2005. I was planning on going back for my last and final year this fall. They will lose my tuition if they don't get this fixed
We definitely need more security around the school. I carry pepper spray on me constantly and have a first degree black belt but I still don't feel safe walking back home at night. This should be a top priority. Our students, faculty, staff, and guests deserve to feel safe.
As a visitor, I have noticed more transient individuals in the area. No student, staff or visitor should have to be fearful of attending or working at this academic institution.
While we've been fortunate so far, there have been multiple incidents over the past few years which could easily have gotten out of hand very quickly. Is this a difficult addition to a thin budget? Yes. But it's also important, considering the evolution of the surrounding post-light-rail environment.
yes, as a student body, we can act as the school security. But this is an unreliable source of protection. Especially with an urban surrounding, the school needs professionals.
as a former staff member and alum who, via circumstance, was forced to step in on multiple security issues to try to ensure safety for students and fellow staff, I can verify that the lack of security is a glaring gap in an otherwise good campus environment. The school would be very wise to bring security back on and properly address these concerns.
Music gear is usually the most precious thing a musician can own, livelihoods and dreams are at stake, secure the facility!
Dear students, parents, and colleagues: I am writing to inform all members of the McNally Smith community that the college has decided to take steps to provide a uniformed, professional security presence on campus. We know that safety and security has become a growing concern within our community, and we want to be responsive to our students, their parents, and fellow colleagues on any and all issues that pertain to safety. Please know that campus security is of the utmost importance to us, and we have never taken these issues lightly. We are in regular communication with the St. Paul Police Department seeking their help, support, and advice on how to improve the security of our campus environment. Following their advice, we installed an extensive network of video cameras, electronic door locks, and have a very active campus security committee, all of which have contributed to campus safety. To further ensure the safety of our students and visitors at this time, we will be contracting with an outside firm to provide additional security measures. Specifically, we will have two security guards regularly patrolling campus. This service is tentatively planned to begin during the week of June 1 and will provide coverage Monday through Friday when the college is in session, as well as during some weekends and special events. Also, as a reminder, we currently offer shuttle service that runs every half hour Monday through Friday from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, as needed, during the summer semester, and seven days a week during the fall and spring. Safety or security concerns can be sent to Campus Safety Director Jeff Aalbers at 651-361-3320 ([email protected]). More information regarding campus safety and security, including tips for staying safe in downtown St. Paul while attending McNally Smith, can be found online at www. Mcnallysmith.edu/safety-security. A college is a highly complex environment and the decisions to allocate resources are never ea
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I have gone to Mcnally since 2005. I was planning on going back for my last and final year this fall. They will lose my tuition if they don't get this fixed