Hillsdale exceeds most universities in campus security, Executive Director of Security and Emergency Management Joe Kellam said in an Insider Series presentation hosted by Hillsdale’s 1844 Society Oct. 29.

“We all must remain vigilant and prepared to ensure the safety of our campus,” Kellam said in an introductory video presented at the event.

Kellam said campus security uses layers of safeguards such as key card access, regulated hours of operation, security vehicles, and response teams.

“If something gets through a layer, it doesn’t get through all the layers,” Kellam said. “The card access has been nice for us because we have full control of all the doors on campus. We can easily go into a soft lockdown. If there’s a disturbance with somebody two blocks down the street, we push a button. Now campus is on a soft lockdown, and all of a sudden, you can’t open a door, but your card lets you in.”

Kellam said much of what security does to protect campus happens behind the scenes.

“Most of the time, you never see any disturbances and you just go about your daily lives,” Kellam said. 

In addition to securing the campus, Kellam said the campus security team is first responder certified to provide medical services to students. 

According to Kellam, campus security can serve as an intermediary between parties in the event of things such as noise complaints so city police do not need to get involved. Kellam said he hopes students realize that campus security is there to help them and to keep them from getting in trouble with the city police.

Sophomore and 1844 society executive board member Austin Piecuch said the lecture was in line with the goals of the Insider Series.

“We always plan our Insider Series to show sides of campus that students do not see,” Piecuch said. “Security was a good thing for that. It’s a thing that students don’t all get to learn about.”

Sophomore Avi Maljanian said he found the talk useful.

“It provided a lot of information that we wouldn’t otherwise know,” Maljanian said. “We have the luxury of ignorance because security deals with threats behind the scenes.”