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A state-of-the-art security system has been installed to secure the nearly $10,000 worth of gaming tables and high-tech gaming systems in the new Community Room.
The room, open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is part of the $1.7 million renovation of the Student Center’s first floor. It’s designed as a place where students can relax and unwind between classes with a game of pool, Ping Pong, air hockey or play a variety of games on two Wii terminals, two Xbox terminals or two PS3 terminals.
With so much equipment located in one place, people entering the room will be a controlled process.
“There will be someone working the desk in the room while it is open,” said Student Development and Activities Director Peter Leshkevich. “There will also be a card system in place. Only students currently enrolled in classes and school employees will be able to enter the room and use the equipment.”
People wanting to check out equipment or use games must go to the desk and have their ID card scanned into a computer system. Their ID card will be scanned again when they return the equipment.
If someone doesn’t return the equipment when it is due back, the individual will be notified to bring it back or be billed for the missing equipment through their student account. Play time is limited to 30 minutes. The desk worker keeps track of the time. Students will also be given a timer so they know how much time they have left.
“Rules for the room will be posted. Anyone who violates the rules can have their Community Room privileges temporarily suspended,” Leshkevich said, adding that the policy for how to have privileges reinstated is a work in progress.
Equipment inside the room is secured at all times. The game systems are in locked boxes, secured to the tables and the room is monitored 24 hours a day.
“I have full faith in Pete and his department,” said Campus Safety and Security Director Jacques Desrosiers. “I don’t foresee any security problems happening.”
The room is fitted with a 360-degree camera that is monitored by Campus Security at all times.
“The video will always be recording, so if anything does happen in the room or if something goes missing, the video file can be pulled,” Desrosiers said.
To further discourage theft, the front of the room is locked nightly with a metal gate and the doors to the outside are fire escapes with built-in alarms, preventing students inside the room from letting in others without checking into the room at the front.
