Computer theft continues

Johnny Hunsucker
News Editor

Two days. Two computers. Two residence hall labs across campus. What is it? A string of computer thefts that have left the housing and residence department fuming.
Although the vandals have not been apprehended, the police are actively searching for any new information that could lead to recovery of the stolen property.
The most recent thefts occurred last week on Tuesday and Wednesday in Whittington-Williams residence hall and New Men’s residence hall, respectively. This has led to all residence hall computer labs being shut down for the time being.
Although the exact amount for the missing equipment is not known, it is estimated around $1,500. This includes the cost for power supply and memory in Whittington-Williams and the monitor, hard drive, mouse and keyboard in New Men’s.
The labs just had been reopened. They were previously shut down because of computer theft in the Court of Governor’s pavilion. The computer labs have experienced similar problems since their opening in the fall of 2005.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the housing department, along with academic affairs, is looking at purchasing surveillance equipment. It will still be a few months until this can be finalized due to budgetary constraints.
“We just want to be very proactive to try to prevent this from happening. We need assistance from everybody that might have any information,” Vice President for Student Affairs Wayne Blansett said. “We promise that it will be anonymous.”
“I want our students to understand what’s going on. I want them to get up in arms enough that they become more aware of who is walking their halls,” Director of Housing and Residence Life Elsie Lynn Ervin said.
“It’s students’ money that is being stolen in the form of computers that we’ve bought in a good faith effort to provide a service to our residence hall students,” Ervin said.
Blansett shared similar concerns for students.
“Those fees that you pay to live in those residence halls paid for those machines,” Blansett said.
The main point the housing department and the office of academic affairs is trying to make is that students are the ones being hurt. The money paid for tuition and to the housing department funds these projects. Stealing from the computer labs is stealing from students.
Anyone who has any information regarding the thefts is urged to call the DSU police department at 846-4155.