Newspaper Page Text
RUSSELL Security
keeps crime down
► From Page 1
Matt Hartman, another
Russell freshman, has seen
similar situations in his hall.
“One kid leaves his door
halfway open, even when
he’s in class,” he said. “I
went to go talk to him and I
knocked and the door
opened and there was no
one in there.”
But residents taking the
necessary precautions don’t
need to worry too much
about theft.
“My roommate locks my
door all the time, so I like,
go to the bathroom and I
come back and I'm locked
out,” Ayers said. “My situa
tion, nothing’s going to be
stolen, ever.”
But theft isn’t the only
crime reported in Russell.
The all-freshman dorm has
seen crimes as serious as a
single domestic battery inci
dent and as bizarre as an
intentional bee infestation.
According to a University
Police report, officers were
dispatched to the hall’s
main lobby men’s bathroom
in April after an employee
found approximately 15 bees
and evidence the insects
were intentionally released.
On separate occasions,
police investigated the clog
ging of all the toilets in
another men’s room and fire
damage from burned fliers.
“It’s just freshmen being
dumb,” said Ryan Hill, pres
ident of the Residence Hall
Association. “Maybe it has
to do with students being
away from home for the first
time.”
Williamson said though
he wishes the dorm were
crime-free, the area doesn’t
have any intense problems.
“Sometimes they’re just
what I call immature things
somebody pulling a fire
alarm, somebody writing
something on someone’s
blackboard or setting fire to
a poster. Even though they
could get charged with
something serious, they’re
just more petty nuisance
type things,” he said.
Along with inexperience
and, in some cases, immatu
rity, most freshmen must
overcome one often impos
sible hurdle to stay off the
police’s radar partying in
Athens under the age of 21.
Gerard Kowalski, execu
tive director of University
Housing, said employees are
required to confront stu
dents drinking underage
and document the situation,
but only call police when
things get out of hand. Then,
students are on their own.
“If we engage the police,
then they’re gonna take the
matters in hand and deal
with it like they would deal
with it on the streets of
Athens,” Kowalski said.
Williamson said officers
rarely respond to incidents
where students are acting
rationally.
“If security and the resi
dence hall staff show up and
say, ‘Hey, you need to calm
it down. You need to be
quiet or we’re gonna call the
police,’ a person who’s not
inebriated would probably
say, ‘Alright, got it. Thanks,'”
he said. “When they start
giving them a hard time,
they’re not thinking clearly.”
But Williamson said most
underage drinking reports
he gets don’t come from
housing staff, but students.
“Let’s say we’re room
mates and I come in and
vothlt all over the floor. One
night you’re gonna give me
a freebee, that kind of thing
can happen, but if it hap
pens more than once, you’re
tired of it,” he said. “There
will probably be somebody
tonight that does it that
might get by, but it may be
that 12th time and they’ve
now ticked off their room
mate or they’ve ticked off
the person next door who’s
going to call the police.”
Williamson said the same
holds true for students
smoking marijuana in
dorms, a crime reported six
times in Russell this year.
“The chances of you
doing that illegal activity
one time and getting caught
are pretty slim to none, but
most people aren’t doing it
one time,” he said.
Kowalski said unlike with
alcohol, staff are to call
police at the first sign of
drug use for a few reasons.
“Most of our student staff
Will be able to look at a bot
tle of Natural Light or a
handle of gin and know what
it is. In the case of marijua
na, not all of them may
know,” he said. “If a student
has a can of beer, you can
tell him to pour it out. If we
confront someone with mar
ijuana, we’re not gonna take
it into our possession.”
Because of potential legal
ramifications, drugs have to
be dealt with differently
than alcohol.
“If indeed there is mari
juana, how do you dispose
of it? Well, you want the
cops to,” Kowalski said.
But housing staff mem
bers aren’t just going around
writing up students. One of
their main jobs is to keep
the residence halls secure,
and Williamson said what
they’re doing is working.
“We don’t see near the
vandalism we used to see in
residence halls, really we
don’t see the thefts we used
to see,” he said. “When I
look a decade ago, we’ve
seen some real improve
ment."
Securing Students
University student
Oluoma Okeke has been a
desk assistant for two years,
and despite the occasional
drunk student or ID-less
individual, she said she has
never had serious problems.
Asa DA, Okeke is respon
sible for ensuring everyone
entering the dorm is a stu
dent holding an ID marked
with a Russell sticker or is a
guest of a Russell resident.
“Some have tried to be
slick and try to put up the
ID real quick and you’ll see
a ‘BR’ and you’re like, ‘Umm,
Brumby’s up there. You
don’t live here,’” she said.
The importance of secu
rity is drilled into new DAs’
heads during their training,
and if they fail to make sure
students entering dorms
actually live there, they
could lose their jobs.
“One of the most impor
tant things about coming to
college is you want to make
sure that you’re at a place
where you feel secure, you
feel that you can achieve
academic success, where
you can meet and expose
yourself to many different
people and none of that can
come if you don’t feel safe
and secure and comfortable
with where you’re at,” she
said.
Okeke said one of hous
ing’s most helpful security
features is the 9-person
security staff who patrol the
dorms from 10 p.m. to 6 am.
“Without them, I feel like
a lot more stuff would be
happening at the night
time,” she said. “They do a
lot to make sure that, you
know, things are running
smoothly.”
DAs and security guards
aren’t the only safety fea
tures University Housing
provides. To gain access to
residence halls, people must
pass biometric hand scan
ners and security cameras
before reaching students’
locked doors.
But all the security in the
world is meaningless if stu
dents don’t do their part to
keep the halls secure.
“Ultimately, to me, it's a
partnership,” Kowalski said,
acknowledging the extra
onus of responsibility on the
University to keep students
secure as they transition to
dorm life.
He said new students
must realize living in dorms
is different than living with
their families.
“When you’re at home,
your parents always have a
plan of ‘OK, if you’re the last
one out of the house, what
are you supposed to do?
How do you secure your
house?’” he said. “Then they
move to a large building
with hundreds of other peo
ple they live with, they have
to change their headset a
little bit about who’s going
to turn the last light off, you
know, what do we do when
we leave the building?”
Regardless of how long
this transition can take,
Williamson gave the precau
tions his stamp of approval.
“Could we have more
security? Probably so, but
then again it starts becom
ing set up more like a cor
rectional facility than true
housing,” he said. “I think
they do everything reason
able to make it still feel like
a place people want to live.”
Russell Hall Crimes
Theft by Taking 4
A student reported her 1994 Buick Century ($400) stolen from the
Russell Hall Lot between Jan. 13 and 15.
Possession of Marijuana 4
A male student was arrested in Russell hall lor possession of
marijuana, possession of a fake ID and underage possession of
alcohol on Jan. 21.
Criminal Tresspass 4
A complainant reported witnessing an unknown individual damage
an electrical conduit on Jan. 23 at Russell Hall.
Possession of Marijuana (2 Incidents) *
A male student was arrested and charged with possession of
marijuana in Russell Had on Jan. 31.
Possession of Marijuana
A male student was arrested and charged with possession of '
marijuana, a fake ID and drug related objects in Russell Hall on
Feb. 5.
Arson
Complainant reported burned fliers and minor smoke damage in *
Russell Hall on Feb. 15.
Burglary
Two male students reported textbooks ($467) stolen from Russell <
Hall on Feb. 16.
Arson
A burned poster and bum marks on an interior wall were reported 1
at Russell Hall on Feb. 26
Arson
Complainant reported burned fliers and damage to the wail, ceding 4
tiles and floor inside Russell Hall on Feb. 28.
Possession of Marijuana/Drag Related <
Objects/ Underage Possession
Officers responded to a suspicious odor complaint, obtained a
search warrant and seized a controlled substance on March 3 at
Russell Hall.
Criminal Trespass 4
A female employee reported damage to her vehicle in the Russell
Had Lot on March 25.
Underage Possession i
A male student was arrested and charged with underage posses
sion of alcohol and criminal trespass in Russell Hall on March 26.
Underage Possession <
Three students and one visitor were arrested and charged with
underage possession of alcohol in Russell Had on April 2.
Burglaries
Three burglaries were reported in Russell Had on April 4. In total, *
four laptop computers were stolen.
Burglary
A male student reported a burglary in Russell Hall. Two textbooks .
($270) were reported stolen on April 5. ’
Possession of Marijuana
A male student was arrested and charged with possession of 4
marijuana in Russell Hall on April 7.
Criminal Trespass
Complainant reported that bees had possibly been intentionally (
released in a Russell Hall bathroom on April 11.
Theft by Taking
A male student reported a Gary Fisher bicycle ($600) stolen from 4
Russell Hall on Apnl 16.
Underage Possessions
Officers responded to two reports of intoxicated individuals, who 4
were transported by EMS from Russell Hall on April 23
Theft by Taking i
A male student reported a pair of shorts (S4O) stolen on Apnl 24 at
Russell Had
Theft by Taking .
A female student reported her iPod and headphones ($320) stolen
from Russell Hall on May 3.
Theft or Loss of Mislaid Property <
A male student reported his wallet and its contents ($183) mis
placed at Russell Half on May 7
Criminal Trespass .
A complainant reported someone intentionally disabled multiple 1
toilets in Russell Had on May 8.
Burglary <
A male juvenile visitor reported his cell phone ($200) stolen at
Russell Hall on June 6.
Burglary <
Two male juvenile visitors reported two cell phones, two iPods, a
watch, flip flops and a pair of socks ($1,242) stolen at Russell
Ha* on June 6.
Burglary .
Two male juvenile visitors reported two cell phones and an iPod
($650) stolen at Russell Hall on June 6.
Burglary <
A male visitor reported a safe containing two rings ($6,035) stolen
at Russell Ha* on June 6.
Suspicious Person 4
Complainant reported a suspicious person at the bus stop at
Russe* Ha* on July 13.
Harassing Phone Calls 4
A female University student reported receiving repeated unwanted
cadis from an unknown individual at Russell Ha* on Aug. 15.
Duty Upon Striking an Unattended Vehicle 4
A woman reported her vehicle was struck while parked at the
Russe* Ha* Lot between Aug. 15 and 17.
Theft by Taking 4
A male University student reported an unattended iPhone and
case ($210) stolen from Russe* Ha* on Aug. 17.
Criminal Trespass 4
Complainant reported two unknown individuals entered several
rooms without authorization, no theft or damage reported at
Russe* Ha* on Aug, 18.
Battery/Domestic Dispute 4
Officers responded to a domestic dispute/battery that occurred
earlier in the day between a male and female student at Russe*
Hatton Aug. 22.
Barring Notice 4
Individual barred for panhandling at Russe* Ha* on Aug. 27.
Harassing Phone Calls 4
Victim reported receiving harassing calls and texts from a known
individual on Sept 8.
Source: Athens-darke County Pottce Department and UGA Police Dept
NEWS
The Rip * Buck | TUbsday, Septbmbbi ai, aoio
Tuesday Red Mark!
GW Corner:
r* u r |
30
tamno. ,
sarej
R PEPSI 1
A® Eueryday s s^l
"liiiriff ■iff ;I< l ABB
Check out our menu at
whiplashcafe.net. IHHHBBHfIHS3tBwU3
706-995-9447 (whip) • free parking in
Fin^j^r^acebooMo^pecials^^^^^^OU^AßAGE^^^^
K* BUY ONE BREfIKFQST SANDWICH
V AND GET fi FREE 81AZE0 DONUT
8008 TWW 9121
VgX ~3*o
-F ( 30-5 OP
S'-s 1 ee-2.ee
—n
U RSAN (yEjp
waxing fejp^ading
(JOb) 61} - wvA%7lrbafcanctuarySpa.com
706.613.7877 • 530 Hawthorne Ave. • thecatanddogclintc.ccxn I
M -vcmti /rwn CabH g
: Vo% onsite'^l”’ s
g flea preventative g • fut vor*
g coupo. * * £*L tjum “ Ut keukemi*/
£ itvountt O. coupon Upw IMMO) • Of-orm.nq Ruptratoiy 1
BC g Poq DiittPipn/ Vyxirg
fiIDUNKIN'~I
to DONUTS m I
FREE BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE
INTI TIE PURCHASE OF A LARGE COf FEE/IATTEE
bmObiiglb i m I RWiwlWiidlf Mu.
Tuesday Special
1 Larg* 1 Topping Pizza
MWA
• | Carry-Out Only Ml J
. Order Online • PasMJohnt.com
™ Pram C<: TUC4SS -
choo frchoo
JAPANESE KOREAN CRJLL EXPREfS
’ lufm OWi” ’
: GET ONE FREE! I
1 EXPIRES 93L2010. '• 1
| NOT VALID ON DELIVERY. |
___ONJ^COUPONPERJRANSACTjON. _
~ OPENTILLMm'MON-SAT ”
EASTSIDE WESTSIDE
1055 GAINES SCHOOL RD 1021 PARKWAY BLVD #ll7
706.543.8888 706.353.8889
Delivery available to dorms and greek houses.
WE HAVE FREE WI-FI!
FIND OUR MENU AT CHOOCHOORESTAURANTS.COM
3