“How Far vs. How Safe”
After an extensive school day full of notes and quizzes, most students don’t expect themselves to be the victim of harassment or robbery. ---
“It is important for off campus security because they can literally protect people and help people from being hurt or feeling in danger at any point in time,” said senior student Chauncey Cannon, just one of the many students at Washington DC’s Mckinley Technology High School who has witnessed the consequence of not having effective off campus security.
Like Chauncey, students feel like there safety and well-being after school is equally as important during school where most of the security guards remain for the entire day.
“Tech lacks an amount of off campus security guards because they only stay on school property,” Cannon said. “People can walk down the hill and something can happen and security can be nowhere in site and the cops are always in the wrong spots”
Other school officials agree that Mckinley’s security off campus is not effective due to the range that the security guards are required to go, set by the school.
“The scope of how far the security guards can go is lacking because they can’t leave certain premises” said Maurice Butler, Mckinley Tech administrative staff. “What's lacking is what is available for students after they get past the point where security can past.”
Though it has been a challenge for some students, the school is aware of this issue and is trying to identify and find valuable solutions to this problem.
Cannon argues, “Tech can improve the quality of off campus security guards by getting more fit security guards and getting more security guards that are able to do more than just fall asleep sitting around talking…”
More and more McKinley students find themselves at a dilemma while leaving campus sometimes struggling to remain safe and out of harm's way. Local schools as well as suspicious threats around the area have a history of endangering the lives of many Mckinley students. Some may argue that students play a role as well when leaving campus that ensures their safety and well-being.
“You're known to be a target so why make yourself more of a target by having different things that someone wants to take from you whether it's electronics or jewlery students should minimize themselves as target.” said Butler.
As the school day closes and students prepare to go home, one thing which can be avoided is them being endangered off-campus. “Security alleviates any potential problems that can happen after school” said Butler. “ It provides a sense of safety and security for the students.”
