Police claim gates cut crime

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by Ben Gerdemann

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The changes, recommended by the security committee headed by Vice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho, included new gates, additional lighting and college police officers.

"These changes combine to give a feeling of safety, and the gates prevent crimes of opportunity," Voswinkel said.

"People would come onto campus from Main Street, steal a car and then leave through the same exit," she said.

In 1996, vehicle theft fell to five from 11 in 1995, and burglaries dropped from 14 in 1995 to seven in 1996. This was the first full year of accurate measurement, because most of the changes were implemented in 1995.

In 1994, the campus was open 24 hours a day. "Then, we closed the campus from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. with temporary chain gates," Voswinkel said. "The new gates are more secure and permanent."

The gates also assist officers in preventing crime.

"During late hours, people who are going the wrong way or seem lost [have] criminal records or [are] intoxicated."

According to Paul Sanders, the project construction manager of the gates at Facilities and Engineering, all the gates on campus will be finished by the middle or end of February.

"It's an ongoing process," Voswinkel said in reference to security measures on campus. "We keep adding things -- emergency phones, sidewalks, new card readers, but everything has been done to maintain the flavor of the Rice campus. Probably many, many years ago there were gates at these same entrances," she said.

This item appeared in the News section of the January 31, 1997 issue.

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