Page 78 - Security Today, January/February 2022

Securing Outdoor Campus Spaces with Help from New Technologies
By Bruce Canal
Protecting Outdoor Spaces
Halfpoint/Shutterstock.com
The human brain doesn’t reach full maturity until around age 25. High school and college students may have bodies that resemble young adults, but there’s sometimes a disconnect between their physical appearance and behavior. Impulse control and judgment are often lacking. It’s not surprising, then, that the types of outdoor security threats that most commonly plague educational campuses are different than what we find in other public spaces. Of course, there is a fair share of theft and petty crimes, but the more prevalent issues fall into two categories:
1. Aggressive behavior at events and gatherings that spirals out of control
2. Vandalism and mischief that occur during “off ” hours
While both of these scenarios have been staples of campus life for as long as we can remember, their frequency, intensity, and the seri-
ousness of resulting consequences have ballooned in recent years.
Campuses provide plenty of reasons for animated crowds to gather. Athletic games, protests, concerts, demonstrations, political speeches – all are highly-energized events that draw passionate attendees, often with opposing viewpoints. Unfortunately, rowdiness is far more like- ly to turn dangerous in today's polarized and pandemic-weary envi- ronment. The Wall Street Journal reports that several years of dis- rupted routines have negatively impacted students' social skills and discipline, leading to increased fighting and gun possession. At large outdoor events, confrontations that start between a few people can quickly draw in others. And, as tensions escalate, campus police and law enforcement must deal with the real possibility of extreme vio- lence like someone getting shot or plowing a vehicle into the crowd.
Vandalism on campuses is also on the rise. After more than a year of lockdowns and remote learning, students returning to campus are venting their pent-up energy in destructive ways. A recent article in
26 campuslifesecurity.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022