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Firings are questioned
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice and Services created a plan to enhance Virginia's campus security system in August 2006; however, some associated with the security system at Virginia Tech feel that the system has not improved and that some security workers have been unfairly reprimanded.
An employee of the campus watch organization at Tech who has chosen to remain anonymous said he believes three walking security guards at Tech were unreasonably and "conveniently" fired over Thanksgiving break.
"Walkers are cheaper than sworn officers, basically the three people the student body relied on," the source said. "It was the walkers who would report (suspicious activity), but you don't have them right now because they've been fired."
All the security guards on campus work for, and are funded by, the Virginia Tech Police Department, and the walking security guards are specifically designed to protect students at night.
"The walking patrol goes around and they are kind of extra eyes and ears to the police department," said Lt. Deborah Morgan, VTPD. "They also look for any suspicious activity around (campus)."
While the VTPD refused to discuss the employment status of the individuals, a second anonymous source also alleged that three walking units, David Cox, Steve Hutchins, and Peter Montgomery were let go over the break.
While the sources believe the men were released for taking a break to get coffee at 7-11 during their late hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), Morgan strongly denied the claim.
"We've never fired anyone for taking a coffee break. (Coffee breaks) have nothing to do with anything," Morgan said. "Not one bit of any of that has any truth to it."
However, Steven Miller, a concerned Blacksburg citizen who had addressed the issue of seeing "little change" with the support for Campus Watch and security guards in a Collegiate Times letter to the editor on Nov. 14, believes that the three guards were fired.
"I know of them, they have very good reputations; they were viewed as three of their best guys," Miller said. "I just think they got a real raw deal. There's just no question about it."
Miller also agreed with the reason for the guards allegedly being released, adding that he feels they aren't supplied with proper clothing to stay warm during the winter nights. He said that other members of campus watch at Tech, which include the guards who are responsible for locking the campus, the building guards, and the safe ride drivers, aren't always able to perform their job properly because of the lack of clothing.
"The building guards are supposed to walk around their post at least once a night, some of them don't do it at all," Miller said. "Some of them don't do it because they're lazy, but some of them don't do it because they're cold."
However, Morgan disputed that claim and described campus watch's supplied attire as "heavy winter parkas."
She also addressed the issue of taking breaks during their eight-hour shift by saying that it is state policy for the guards to be given one meal break that usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes.
Jared Taylor, security guard supervisor who works under Morgan, declined to comment on the situation at hand. VTPD will not discuss anything concerning the firings and say that the equipment they are providing is sufficient.
"If they didn't (feel their equipment was reliable) they should have asked and they would be replaced or taken care of ... nobody did," Morgan said.
The anonymous source working for campus watch and those, like Steven Miller, who are following the security systems in Virginia, feel there is a genuine issue at hand.
"The situation of Virginia Tech security has gone from bad to worse," Miller said. "I feel like something's necessary; I feel like the administration doesn't get the message any other way. A walk-out may be the ultimate solution."
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Leave a comment 16 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
We have enough oinks around campus, they're doing a good job!
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Hokies don't need security guards walking around campus. The fact is that these people come from the lower part of society and have never had to take care of their own uniforms. After months of abuse, on their part, they look for someone else to blame because of their own lack of responsibility. This Steve Miller character does not have a firm grasp of reality. He is the type to complain and complain about things that don't matter. Please don't grant people like him interviews, it only enrages them more. Did the CT just write an article about worn out pants on minimum wage security guards? I hope steve miller and the security guards walk out and never come back.
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Since when does writing a letter to the editor qualify one to be an expert on any subject? This guy has a beef, understood. But his opinion, third party as it is, should not even be presented in the article. The article is about the Police Department and the Campus Watch individuals, not some random Bburg citizen who is "following the security systems in Virginia". What a joke! This "newspaper" continues to amaze me with antagonistic, word of mouth type rumor spreading, not news reporting. Amazing.
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I am sure this security guards would not be complaning if there where not reason to, most of your students are rich little spoiled brats who have not entered the work force and have no clue of having to work. It is so unreal to me that people think that the only college in Virginia, is VT,We do have other great colleges.
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Where in this article does it address the income level and work experience of Virginia Tech students? It is so unreal to me that people post comments about Tech students loving their school too much on articles about campus security.
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You people that come onto this web site every day and read articles only to complain, commenting that you never read the CT are idiots. If you don't like it, why don't you do something about it? You just read articles and then post, usually anonymously, about how much you hate the CT and how you never read it. If you never read it, why are you always on here commenting about how bad it sucks? Get a life.
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obviously there's an issue if the newspaper is gonna write about it on their front page. theres more to it than just a letter to the editor, someone else from campus watch talked about the crappy situation but chose to be anonymous because he didnt want to get fired! why can't more people recognize this and work to fix the situation...i've seen those walking security guards and they really did make me feel safe!
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Someone in upper tech administration needs to get a clue. We already had one major tragedy on campus. You would think that security would be beefed up with good equipment, not run with salvation army hand me downs!
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ignorant response on Nov. 30th Sahara Parker.....losers in the world today....(laughs)
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I'm tired of hearing the "Go Hokies" BS that is prevalent throught the blacksburg area. The truth is quite different. Virginia Tech is all about profit for the state. They don't pay their employees well, they choose not to spend money to improve security (even following what occured on April 16th), and yet they have money for things like additional clock faces on the tower at the Alumni center (how many thousands of dollars got tossed down that rathole, hmmm virginia tech?) On the one hand we hear about budgetary crisis, and how vtech needs to cut funding because the state has cut theirs, and on the other we have President Steger "earning" 450k plus per year, and donating nothing back to tech to improve things during such a "budgetary crunch." Just what does one do to deserve more then a thousand dollars a day, including hollidays and weekends? The student body at Virginia Tech really needs to wake up, there are no two ways about it. Go hokies...give me a break...
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" Hokies don't need security guards walking around campus.... The fact is that these people come from the lower part of society and have never had to take care of their own uniforms. " What a knucklehead. What hokies need is a few less spoiled rich kids who don't have a clue about the real world.
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If the situation was a real crisis and the "anonymous" members of the security patrols actually thought that they were a vital part of the community, they would not be afraid to voice their opinions. Some nameless local is writing letters to the school newspaper? That strikes of an old man living in a house full of cats with too much time on his hands. Several people have mentioned this clock tower, if the clock tower put people out of a job I'm fine with it and I suspect 99 percent of the people who read this are. If they weren't there would be more vocal objection to this fact. Steger's salary is too much? This complaint is mentioned by every individual who is upset with they way things work. What Steger had to go through from 16 April until he leaves as president deserves far more than what he is getting paid. Some also think that crime is prevented by the night-time security folks. I have never read about crime being prevented by these guys. I'm not saying it hasn't, but my guess is they break up some yelling matches and help escort some drunk kids home. Ut Prosim "Just what does one do to deserve more than one thousand dollars a day." - This quote made by someone who is not a University President.
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"Steger's salary is too much? This complaint is mentioned by every individual who is upset with they way things work. What Steger had to go through from 16 April until he leaves as president deserves far more than what he is getting paid. " I didnt know that President Steger himself read and commented on the Collegiate Times. You learn something new every day. How'd you earn your 8 grand last week Pres Steger?
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gl9HUh Wow, it can be truth
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