Because our personal and collective safeties are important issues, particularly given current events, I would like to bring to our school’s attention an important campus safety issue.

On Oct. 20, 2004, I was studying in the campus library, when I heard a loud noise in the parking lot. Looking out the library window, I observed a light blue Monte Carlo driving in circles recklessly in Lot 5. Immediately, I called campus security on a campus phone. During the three times I called, I was only able to reach their voice mail, which did not provide me with an alternative number.

The next day, I called security and explained the above situation. The woman answering the phone became defensive, said that she personally answered the phones during the incident in question and emphatically explained that security does not have a voice mail system.

I also discussed this matter with two staff members at Skyline, who laughed at my concern over safety and explained that attacks against students are not uncommon.

I am concerned for my safety and the safety of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors at Skyline when security does not have a live person answering the phones, does not provide an alternative contact number when voice mail picks up, and has a security staff that denies having a voice mail system. It is clearly foreseeable that someone could be seriously injured, physically and psychologically, due to a delay in campus security’s response to voice mail messages. Skyline College is now aware of a potentially dangerous situation and faces severe legal liability should someone be harmed.

Expressing these concerns on Oct. 21, I then e-mailed all members of Board of Trustees, the head of Skyline Security (James Herndon), and President of Skyline College (Francis Kelly). Board President Karen Schwarz has an e-mail address, [email protected], which ironically did not accept e-mails. The only person who responded to my concerns was board member Dave Mandelkern. He wrote to me thanking me for bringing this matter to his attention. Obviously maintaining a safe and secure environment at all of our college campuses is of great interest the Board of Trustees, however, I have yet to receive any further follow up from them.

In my experience as an advocate and physician, if a group of interested individuals expresses their concerns to those in power, the authorities tend to become responsive. Therefore, if you agree that my concerns have validity, please contact the Board of Trustees and perhaps your representatives in state government.