Over the past couple of months, Ramapo College has increased safety and sustainability while renewing some buildings on campus. Jason Balsan, Ramapo’s new director of Public Safety, is bringing a fresh perspective on safety techniques and regulations for Ramapo College.
Upon the arrival of the new director, Ramapo was shifting from security guards in residence halls and switched to self-service kiosks that are to be placed in every residence hall around campus. Balsan took it on as his first project.
Every year, Ramapo reevaluates safety on campus and thinks of new ideas that can improve the safety of students. The kiosks allowed for easier and more accurate guest registration.
“It will allow us to better communicate with guests and hosts in the event of an emergency,” Balsan said.
The process of using the kiosk is fairly simple — guests will need their state issued ID and their face in order to be registered in the system as a guest. A physical parking pass may be printed out at the kiosk if needed by the guest. In addition to the email they receive, this would be seen as their campus guest pass. Every hall would have the same process and would give the same rules and regulations to follow for everyone.
In the case of disabilities, the kiosks are ADA compliant, which means that the kiosks are at a low enough height for wheelchair users and they look to update software features to allow for the use of the kiosks by those who are visually impaired. The system is fairly new and is still going through changes that look to make it easier and more compatible for students all across campus.
This changes having nightly security guards watching over the security of residence halls. In place of the guards, Public Safety will be making more frequent patrols around campus to ensure everyone on campus is safe.
“We will be recommitting to the best parts of our current security plans at the residence halls, including enhanced patrol by the public safety team, and continuous evaluation of technological solutions to provide the safest possible environment,” Balsan said.
Senior resident student Grace Delvin said she does not believe the kiosk can take the place of the nightly security guards.
“I preferred security to be there,” she said. “It felt more human and it feels just like everything else, just new and technical.”
Along with the new change, kiosks will be offered to students 24 hours a day to register all overnight guests instead of only being operational only during RA hours during the week and weekend. Students are able to use any of the residence halls to check in their guests as they all get monitored through the same system. Public Safety will be available all day to oversee issues and make sure everything is working properly. RA’s and residence life staff are of course there to assist as well with any questions or concerns regarding the new program.
“This system allows Public Safety to monitor guest registrations in real-time and respond to issues with guests as they arise,” Balsan said.
Public Safety is there to help with any issues here on campus and to offer the best security and service possible. While it is still in progress and needs a few adjustments, this new option to check in guests seems to be working well.
Senior resident Bella Apgar is also not a fan of the kiosks and finds they are more a hindrance than actually providing safety. “It is already not working and already has a sign on it to talk to an RA about it,” Apgar said. “If I had a guest I would not use it. The old system of the security guards added a feeling of security and now that is gone.”
In contrast, senior commuter student Myria Bourboulis, a frequent overnight guest, thinks the new policy is a great addition to Ramapo.
“This system is more efficient and it took me less than five minutes to complete,” Bourboulis said, adding that the previous system was less efficient.
Balsan encouraged students who have any questions or concerns with Public Safety to share them.
“The best information to help keep you safe comes directly from you,” he said.
For any information or concerns about the new quest policy or procedures email Public Safety at publicsafety@ramapo.edu.
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Rebecca Bleich
