EDITORIAL: Innovative solutions will stop small-time crooks

It’d be hypocritical if The Franklin criticized campus security for installing the new call boxes in parking lots across Franklin College. Indeed, this newspaper called for the installation of such boxes two years ago.

But we also have to recognize the irony here. At exactly the same time the college is investing $25,000 in these call boxes and installing them in parking lots, thieves highlighted their major flaw. They waited until no one was around to call security and then broke four cars’ windows in the lot on Franklin’s northwest end and stole electronic equipment from some of those cars.

The already-planned and paid-for call boxes can’t help stop crime if no one is there to report the crime.

Campus security has taken a long series of steps to make Franklin a safer place. In addition to the call boxes, Security Director Steve Leonard pushed for a system that sends emergency text-messages to anyone who’s signed up to receive those messages. That way, anyone anywhere will get instant emergency news.

They’ve installed One Card readers on most buildings on campus, and as money is freed up, even more of those card readers are being installed.

And security officers regularly patrol the entire campus.

But sometimes even the most stupid and brazen of criminals can get away with a loot.

That’s why it’s critical that Franklin College continue providing campus security with the tools it needs to combat crime.

Leonard and his team have proven able to step up to most any challenge thus far. Making vehicles more safe is the next in that line of challenges.

Because Leonard has offered innovative solutions to the problems facing campus, it should be up to him to decide what steps must be taken next.

But it’s up to administrators and the board of trustees to ensure that even when the college’s budget faces crunches, enough money is still available to make the necessary security changes to keep vehicles in parking lots, and students on campus, safe.