We at the Skyline View have already covered the new surveillance cameras and touched on whether they are for the better or for the worse. However, something was missing that should have come up either with or before the actual cameras.

While the security cameras were installed approximately a month ago, it wasn’t until just recently that notification of these new cameras was posted.

We are pretty much unanimous in our support of getting new surveillance cameras. After all, the camera in the Skyline bookstore did help a student recover his stolen backpack and lead to the arrest of the alleged culprit, Alan Caicedo. We approve of making our school and students safer.

When we discovered that signs saying that there are new security cameras operating around campus were not posted until this week (a good month after the cameras were installed), we weren’t exactly happy.

We believe that people should always be aware that they are being recorded, whether it be on a tape recorder or on a video camera. If people know that they can easily be seen, then that alone should be enough to discourage any attempts at robbery or violence, and the cameras will have then served their purpose. But if people do not know, then they may go ahead and try to take advantage of somebody, and the cameras will have only served in getting justice, not preventing anything from ever happening. In addition, we live in America, a country where you aren’t supposed to have to feel as though your privacy is in jeopardy.

So, case in point, we feel that it is fine to record the entire school on video to provide a safer working and learning environment, but it should be made clear to everyone exactly what is going on.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The print edition of this article mistakenly refers to Alan Caicedo as “the culprit” rather than “the alleged culprit.” The Skyline View does not mean to implicate Caicedo in any sort of criminal activity that he may or may not be responsible for, nor imply guilt before he has been tried before a jury of his peers.