The Collegian : the weekly newspaper of Behrend College. (Erie, PA) 1989-1993, November 18, 1993, Image 5

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    Thursday, November 18, 1993
Locks in Lawrence replaced
by Terry Rucker
ColltgKUi Staff
Recently, a master key which
operated all the locks in Lawrence
Hall was reported missing.
Whether it was lost or stolen is
unknown, but as a result, all of
the locks in the hall were replaced
with new ones.
James Bowen, manager of
Housing and Food Services said,
"Since the safety of the students
was jeopardized, we had to
implement new locks and keys."
The locks were changed during
the middle of the day on Monday,
November 15. The new keys
were offered to students later in
the afternoon.
Bowen commented, "The
students have been understanding
and cooperative in the change.
Their reactions weren't as bad as I
originally thought they would
be."
Most students think that three
keys are an inconvenience as
compared to two.
Ben Knight, a first semester
mechanical engineering major
So you wanna' be famous? If you are committed
to preventing alcohol problems on campus,
read 0n...
The U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) announces the
2nd National College Prevention Materials Competition for college
students and student organizations. Winners will receive cash prizes,
and winning entries will be published nationwide. The materials must be
designed to prevent alcohol problems among college students. Categories
include: video production, radio public service announcement, print public service
announcement."special issue" newspaper, poster, prevention booklet or handbook, and
specialty item
Entries will be judged lor effectiveness, appropriateness, design and layout, and scientific
accuracy. Entries must be received by February 1, 1994 and must include an official
entry/release form. To obtain an entry kit. contact your school’s alcohol and drug
coordinator, or call 1-800-729-6686, extension 5992.
believed, "It's what had to be
done, but it was an inconvenience
getting all the keys."
Dave Michalow, a third
semester education major,
commented, "When you have
stuff to carry in, having an extra
key is a pain since you have to
switch hands."
Jenn Heilman, a third semester
accounting major, disagreed. "I
didn't think it was an
inconvenience. There were
posters all over the building
informing us ahead of time. A
representative from Housing was
in the lobby the whole day
handing out keys, which made
the change easier."
During the lock change, room
locks were removed, leaving
doors open which created a risk
for people's valuables.
Kirsten Anderson, a third
semester psychology major said,
"I think they should have changed
the room locks first since people
could have had their property
stolen."
Students will not be charged
for the lock change.
Police and Safety on trial
by Kristie Guldaer
Kristin Wasilewski
and Hal D. Coffey
CotUgitm Staff
Recent increases in underage
drinking citations and the "Frank
Fasso" investigation have caused
some students to question Police
and Safety's policies.
A student who wished to
remain anonymous said, “They
refer you for drinking off
campus although they are not
supposed to be able to. They
call it public display of
drunkenness.”
Larry Silvis, manager of
Police and Safety explained that
the officer must be well trained
in the area of detecting drunken
behavior.
“All the officers have been
trained in the field of sobriety,"
Silvis said.
The Field Sobriety Course
teaches officers what to look for
in drunken behavior.
“What brings the officers'
attention to the individual is
what they observe,” said Silvis.
Under Act 120 of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Constitution, “All of the officers
go through S2O hours of
Municipal Police Officers
training," Silvis said.
Officers are also required to
pass a physical agility test, a
drug test, and a psychological
test.
Another student who wishes
to remain nameless, said, “They
(Police and Safety) are too
inconsiseti. My roommate was
caught with a bottle of alcohol
Questioning policy
and all he got was a referral.
People caught stumbling a little
and with no alcohol on them are
given a citation."
Silvis, on the other hand, said
that the officers do know what
they are doing. “It’s not just
happen chance,” he said.
Silvis said that after an officer
observes a student who they
believe is intoxicated, the
student is asked to take a
Personalized Breath Test (PBT).
The PBT is not the same as a
breathalizer test.
A PBT is an electronic device
that measures the amount of
alcohol on an individual’s
breath. It is a small rectangular
box which gives a reading of
between .02 and I.S
accordingly after the individual
blows into it
The student is not required by
state law to take any kind of
breathalizer test unless they are
driving and must agree to it
before the officer can give it to
them.
The PBT “is recommended and
approved by the state of
Pennsylvania,” said Silvis. “It’s
not as exact as a breathalizer, but
it’s every bit as valid."
Silvis also said, “We have two
police officers who are trained
breathalizer operators."
Police and Safety has two
levels of officers. There are two
swom-in police officers and the
rest are non-swom.
“We investigate everything.
We arrest a lot of people beyond
students,” Silvis claimed.
“From time to time we have to
arrest a student for the protection
of the other students.”
The job of a campus police
and safety officer is much
different than the job of a city
police officer.
“It’s a whole different
environment,” said Silvis.
“You (the officer) have to
understand the pressures and
needs of the students.”
Police and Safety has also
been trying to deal with the
many harassing phone calls
being reported by women on
campus.
It seems that a man who calls
himself "Frank Fasso” has been
calling several women, not only
at Behrend but other colleges
campuses in the area also.
Police and Safety has asked
the women not to report the
phone calls unless they happen
twice. This is because so many
women were reporting the calls
that Police and Safety couldn’t
deal with them all.
“We were getting swamped
with calls down here,” said
Silvis. “It’s not that we’re not
concerned about them (the
victims), it’s just
overwhelming.”
According to Silvis, “He’s
(Frank Fasso) been doing this
for 18 years.”
Police and Safety, along with
other colleges’ campus police
and Pennsylvania State Police
have been working very hard to
catch him.
“We are aware of what’s going
on out there,” said Silvis.
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