You Are Being Watched: Cameras Across Campus

Director of Campus Safety Paul Gravel released information regarding the whereabouts of the 55 security cameras located on campus in a school-wide email last Thursday. Until then, this information had been widely unknown and Gravel hoped to clarify the particulars as a continuation of campus safety’s recent communication of their procedures.In recent weeks, campus safety has conducted Emergency Procedure training meetings with both faculty and students in which they presented their protocols for emergency situations, including their lock-down and campus evacuation procedures as well as the role of “Exeter Alert.” They defined the proper response to an armed shooter on campus as the A.L.I.C.E plan, which stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate, and stressed the importance of “see something, say something.” During training for faculty and staff, Gravel was asked why the locations of cameras were not shared with the students. He said he was not aware that this information had not been communicated and decided to provide the locations by way of a school-wide message.Gravel explained that, in 2008, after several shootings in schools all over the country, the Academy had the cameras installed in various locations to reduce the risk associated with specific areas. He said that the general openness of campus combined with the number of individuals requiring campus access creates a challenging security situation and that the cameras help combat such a risk. The majority of cameras are external and cover areas of building access. The few internal cameras are in “high risk” areas such as the Central Heating Plant, the Harris Family Children’s center and the Mayer Art Center.

“It’s nice to have, but they're really not going to be that beneficial.”

In addition, he explained the new Game On Stream Automated Broadcast Management System that allows for the live streaming of on-campus events. These are 24/7 operational, private, unmanned cameras in places such as Fisher Theatre, Love Gym and the Assembly Hall. Although they are not security cameras, Gravel said that they can be used to provide an additional level of security.Gravel said that the cameras do not frequently detect unwanted behavior, but that they sometimes detect unauthorized use of the stadium.Although this email served as a disclosure for the students in regards to the details of the cameras, some were left unsatisfied, as this information had not been clear to many students.“What I don’t appreciate is that they only told us about them recently,” upper Ali Hassani said. “ If the purpose of the cameras is to keep us safe, then we should have known of their presence the whole time.”Upper Patrick Dickinson supported Hassani, adding that he would like to know what information and what actions these cameras have picked up on since its implementation in 2008.“The seven year gap between implementation and disclosure does nothing but foster a climate of distrust. As a community, I think trust between the student body and Campus Safety is critical,” he said. “By failing to tell us of the surveillance, Campus Safety has neglected that trust.”In addition to the late notice, science instructor Townley Chisholm, while acknowledging the good intentions behind these cameras, noted the vague and unset disciplinary action that would follow for a student who might get caught breaking a school rule on camera. “Will they be reported for disciplinary action? If not, what then is the school's responsibility for the safety and education of these students?” he asked.Furthermore, he questioned the need for so many cameras around campus. “I am sad to think that we need to have a camera in the Assembly Hall running 24 hours a day and hope that we can minimize or eliminate cameras going forward,” he said. “I do not want my daily life to be monitored.”Upper Harrison Wladis concurred with Chisholm, criticizing the necessity of such cameras.“It’s nice to have, but they're really not going to be that beneficial,” he said. “I believe they will serve little to no purpose.”On the other hand, several students appreciated the protection the cameras might offer, despite the delayed notification of how comprehensive the camera layout is.Senior Joon Kim initially believed that the cameras were a violation of privacy, but after receiving the email, his belief and appreciation for the cameras changed.“With his email telling us exactly where the cameras are located and their purpose, I can’t help but support the existence of [them] on campus,” he said. “Their intent is not to catch us breaking rules; they’re there to protect us.”Dean of Health and Wellness Gordon Coole reacted similarly, emphasizing that these cameras serve to protect, rather than to reprimand.“I would emphasize that the cameras are for campus safety and not for disciplining students,” he said. “We  really don’t have any intent in watching your every move, but we do have student safety as our number one priority.”