In print | Published March 4, 2010

We offer this statement in response to concerns recently expressed by community members about the decision to contract with Allied Barton to supply security officers for a 9 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. shift. We wish to underscore that this decision was driven solely by security considerations and our need to effectively and reliably provide for the safety of everyone on campus.

As many of you undoubtedly recall, last year we had several late night security breaches on campus which heightened everyone’s concerns about whether we were adequately staffed, particularly in the late evening to early morning hours. Public Safety, in partnership with the dean’s office and human resources, immediately focused on how we could better secure campus during the overnight hours. We also met with members of Student Council last spring to solicit their suggestions and input.

We have worked hard to address the overnight security issue for many years. By their nature, these jobs are hard to fill and to keep filled. They involve late night outside walking shifts in all kinds of weather, and they are both part-time and seasonal. (Patrols are needed when students are on campus approximately 30 weeks per year). Not only have we had to expend considerable time and energy in the repeated hiring and replacement of part-time officers whose tenure with us has routinely been quite brief, but the constant turnover has meant that we have been concerned about the quality of security on campus during those hours.

As a result of our discussions and our experience we made the decision last spring to contract with Allied Barton to provide part-time, seasonal auxiliary patrol officers who have been trained to supplement the work of the college’s public safety officers. The auxiliary officers are expected, by walking a circuitous route around campus, to be watchful for suspicious persons or activity, check exterior residence hall door locks, and look at the interior of certain buildings on campus. Should they note any irregularity, they radio for a College Public Safety Officer to respond to it. They are on campus to provide additional “eyes and ears” in support of our campus public safety officers.

Since Jan. 22 when they began their patrols on campus, these officers have worked effectively with the college’s Public Safety officers to carry out their duties. The use of auxiliary security details is common and has been effective on many campuses throughout the country. Allied Barton has many other college and university clients and is well versed in meeting the needs of a college community. While they have been criticized for some of their employment policies, we have made a good faith effort to work with them to ensure that their payments to these individuals are competitive. It’s important to note that the pre-existing College positions were not benefits-eligible.

Although it is against college policy to reveal the salary of specific individuals employed or contracted by the college, based on the negotiations we had with Allied Barton, the compensation received by these auxiliary officers currently falls within the range that they would receive if they were to have similar duties as college employees.

We do not take lightly the serious labor and living wage issues raised by community members about our relationship with Allied Barton. Even given the larger budget crisis, at no point was the safety and security of the campus community ever seen as something that could be curtailed or compromised in order to save money. There are also no plans in the near or distant future to expand the role of Allied Barton or any other for-hire security firm on campus. We will be mindful of the concerns of our community that all employees here, whether fulltime, part-time or subcontractors, be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. If at any point we believe that is not happening with any of our employees or subcontractors, we will, of course, take immediate steps to address it.

We want to assure the community that the good and hard work done by the Living Wage and Democracy Campaign from 2000 to 2004 has not been lost, and is not forgotten. The college remains committed to the principles the community fought so hard to protect and will remain steadfast in its dedication to ensure that they are met.

Owen Redgrave is the Director of Public Safety, Garikai Campbell is the Acting Dean of Students and Melanie Young is the Vice President for Human Resources.

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