This semester, the Hillsdale College Campus Security Department reduced its payroll from 70 people to just fewer than 50.
The reduction in aid security members allowed for the department to cut its expenses by 13 percent.
Director of Security and Emergency Management Bill Whorley said despite the cut, the quality of campus security coverage remains the same, with positions covering both east and west campus, roving and stationary guards in the Roche Sports Complex, and a stationary guard in the Biermann Athletic Center.
“We are not cutting jobs, but reducing hours,” Whorley said. “This is not a police department. There’s a vast difference between us and them.”
Previously, student security employees paired with full-time and part-time employees during patrol hours. But with the new organization of the department, patrol shifts have been cut to just one guard during each shift, except during weekend hours.
Student dispatcher junior Megan Prom said many of the students as well as the full-time workers are sad to see the guard number cut.
“As a student you are able to be an active participant in the community like that, and being able to help, student to full-time personnel, I think it made a lot of students feel a little bit better,” Prom said. “Some guys loved those midnight to four shifts.”
Additionally, Whorley said they shifted from one-hour shifts to two-hour shifts in Biermann and the sports complex, allowing students to work longer shifts as well as leaving fewer holes in the schedule.
“Do you see the yellow highlights?” Whorley asked, pointing to a schedule laying on his desk. Those indicate open shifts. It used to be much worse.”
Senior Rebekah Smith said she personally hasn’t felt the effect of the reduction of hours.
“The hours I wanted were still there. Going around the room choosing hours, there may have been less to choose from, but I don’t think it hurt anyone’s feelings,” she said.
Prom said she believes the new structure, while not allowing for many experience hours, to be really efficient.
“It allows people to do what they are supposed to be doing and there is not a lot of extras around, so the schedule isn’t as confusing,” Prom said.
In addition to the changes in the structure of assigning shifts, Campus Security no longer breaks into student cars, even when students lock themselves out.
Previously, tools like the “slim jim,” a long skinny tool used to hook and catch the locks in cars, were used to open locked car doors from the outside.
But Whorley said entering cars has become more of a liability issue. Due to the increasing car security over recent years, as mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the tools used to assist entry into a car have become difficult and even dangerous to use as an aide for entry.
“It’s become more and more challenging to assist the students,” Whorley said. “An extra pair of keys put away somewhere is a good idea.”
Working on security isn’t without perks. The department recently added a new 2015 Jeep Patriot, a single-speed, four-wheel drive vehicle, to its patrolling fleet.
“We don’t put tons of miles on vehicles, but patrolling and driving around blocks puts lots of wear on them,” Whorley said. “It’ll not only be nice to have a vehicle that is new, but also to help with assisting students.”
