A week after a deadly shooting happened on the University of New Mexico campus, university leaders held a press conference to discuss their security investments and what else they’re looking into.Within the last five years, UNM officials said they have spent over $20 million on safety investments such as parking lot security cameras and lighting, controlled access to buildings, officer training, acquisition of a Motel 6 near Lobo Village and more. “Although we have safety in almost everything we do with our students, we have identified there are some gaps,” said Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president of finance and administration. Both Costantinidis and UNM President Garnett Stokes said they are reviewing their security policies after the shooting. “Three individuals who were not enrolled in the University were invited into one of our residence halls,” said Stokes. “We’re working to evaluate what preventative measures can be taken to limit our residence halls to the students we serve, while still providing a welcoming environment where students feel safe and at home. We already began a comprehensive review of our keycard access system, guest policies, and physical security measures.”Officials said under the current handbook, “guests” are someone who is spending the night or has belongings in the room and must be an UNM student. “For the residential life housing, guests who are visitors are not allowed if they are not UNM students. But we are still investigating what are the practices among all our dormitories and this is an example of where we may need to tighten up the language in our student handbook,” said Costantinidis.She said they are also looking at the minor policy, something that officials envisioned as summer camp or university programs, while expecting someone to watch the minor on campus. The university police chief said in the future, they also want APD to share data with them.”When a ShotSpotter activation is made, APD does not notify us directly. That’s something that we have to reach out to them, but we’re working with them now to work a solution for that so that we can get notification,” said UNM police Chief Joe Silva.
A week after a deadly shooting happened on the University of New Mexico campus, university leaders held a press conference to discuss their security investments and what else they’re looking into.
Within the last five years, UNM officials said they have spent over $20 million on safety investments such as parking lot security cameras and lighting, controlled access to buildings, officer training, acquisition of a Motel 6 near Lobo Village and more.
“Although we have safety in almost everything we do with our students, we have identified there are some gaps,” said Teresa Costantinidis, executive vice president of finance and administration.
Both Costantinidis and UNM President Garnett Stokes said they are reviewing their security policies after the shooting.
“Three individuals who were not enrolled in the University were invited into one of our residence halls,” said Stokes. “We’re working to evaluate what preventative measures can be taken to limit our residence halls to the students we serve, while still providing a welcoming environment where students feel safe and at home. We already began a comprehensive review of our keycard access system, guest policies, and physical security measures.”
Officials said under the current handbook, “guests” are someone who is spending the night or has belongings in the room and must be an UNM student.
“For the residential life housing, guests who are visitors are not allowed if they are not UNM students. But we are still investigating what are the practices among all our dormitories and this is an example of where we may need to tighten up the language in our student handbook,” said Costantinidis.
She said they are also looking at the minor policy, something that officials envisioned as summer camp or university programs, while expecting someone to watch the minor on campus.
The university police chief said in the future, they also want APD to share data with them.
“When a ShotSpotter activation is made, APD does not notify us directly. That’s something that we have to reach out to them, but we’re working with them now to work a solution for that so that we can get notification,” said UNM police Chief Joe Silva.
