On the morning of Sept. 5, professors in the Department of Communication on campus, in conjunction with Public Safety, reported that five university-owned computers had been stolen from the Reynolds Center for Music and Communication.
According to Chief of Public Safety Craig Russell, three of the five stolen computers have now been recovered. Russell said he is hopeful that the remainder of missing computers will be recovered or appropriate compensation will be made, but until then, the case is considered an open investigation.
While no identifying information or information regarding the disciplinary actions for those in question can be disclosed, Russell said he hopes that this series of events can be an illustration of the importance of Harding’s safety and how it is made a priority by the collaboration of several different departments on campus.
“It’s an opportunity for us to remind students and other departments on campus that your best precaution is just locking things up, and also the importance of us looking out for each other,” Russell said.
After receiving a tip, the Department of Public Safety was able to investigate the information and then proceed to send it to the Office of Student Life for further investigation, enabling them to make significant steps toward resolution within 24 hours of when the crime was first reported.
Russell said he urges students to always call and report any suspicious activity on campus.
“In this case, the tip was a little tiny piece of information that led us to be able to recover a lot of property; so no matter how small the piece of information is, sometimes that can be very, very helpful,” Russell said.
Chair of the Department of Communication Dr. Jack Shock said he is prepared to take precautions to ensure campus safety and security, while still maintaining the welcoming atmosphere associated with the Reynolds Center.
“We want a culture of hospitality in this building; we want people when they come in here to feel like it’s their home, like it’s a place where they can hang out, where they can study, because we’re so hands on, all the departments in this building,” Shock said. “Music, theater, communication, we are visible people and we do a lot of after-hours work. … It is my job to make sure that this building is still seen as warm and accessible and an environment that is conducive to work, but also to do a better job with securing our equipment and our personal belongings.”
In the meantime, precautions are being taken to ensure optimal safety and security for Harding students, equipment and personal belongings by locking all classrooms at the end of class until further discussion can take place regarding increased security measures. While there are more than 200 cameras on campus, Russell said he hopes with the continuation and growth of technology, Harding will be able to innovate with these resources while managing to keep tuition costs manageable.
Dean of Student Life Brandon Tittle said he is thankful for the collaborative efforts of multiple departments on campus.
“We were able to identify the individuals responsible for this incident and recover the property,” Tittle said. “The safety and security of our campus is of utmost importance to our office as we follow the guidelines of the Student Handbook regarding all procedures and disciplinary actions.”
