WESTFIELD—Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha has announced that the university will be moving forward with the installation of security cameras on the school’s property.
Torrecilha announced that Westfield State University (WSU) will install over 400 security cameras throughout the campus, with a focus on residence halls where students live on-campus, according to a statement released by the university. The cameras come following alleged incidents over the past several months of racist and hate-based messages and graffiti being reported, as well as a campus-wide shutdown following a report of a suspicious person among other incidents.
“I am pleased to announce that Westfield State University is moving forward with the installation of security cameras,” Torrecilha said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “As soon as December 4, more than 400 security cameras will be mounted throughout University property, with a focus on the residence halls.”
According to Tricia Oliver, Communications Manager for WSU, the school’s Board of Trustees unanimously authorized the cameras Wednesday afternoon, as well.
Torrecilha said in the statement that the effort is to provide an additional way to “address, and possibly prevent, the continuation of hateful and destructive acts that have disrupted our living and learning environment.”
In addition, Torrecilha said that a log established listing events “related to the bias incidents.” The log is being headed by the school’s Bias Incident Response Team, which was established in the wake of the reports.
On the log, there are currently 22 different incidents listed since Sept. 16, which include reports of racist and sexist notes, among other items, with the latest incident being reported on Nov. 29. The log can be found here.
