Dannon Rhudy on thu 21 mar 02
A
>The local university adminstration has mandated a buddy
>system for studio use for "reasons of safety/security",
>which means there needs to be two people present if anyone
>is present. Is this a standard practice?.......
Jeff, "standard" practices aren't very standard. This college
does not have that rule, BUT if security comes by at night
and finds any students working when there is no teacher
around, they run them off, citing "safety". Some schools
have 24-hour open studios. Some have specific hours for
student access. And, apparently, some have a "buddy" system.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
becky schroeder on thu 21 mar 02
sure as hell sounds reasonable and responsible to me. you don't have a
young woman for a daughter do you or you wouldn't wonder. anyone want to
disagree with, me let me at em.
becky schroeder
>
>The local university adminstration has mandated a buddy
>system for studio use for "reasons of safety/security",
>which means there needs to be two people present if anyone
>is present.
>
>Is this a standard practice?
>
>Jeff Lawrence
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Jeff Lawrence on thu 21 mar 02
Hi,
The local university adminstration has mandated a buddy
system for studio use for "reasons of safety/security",
which means there needs to be two people present if anyone
is present.
Is this a standard practice?
Jeff Lawrence
jml@cybermesa.com
Michele Williams on fri 22 mar 02
My son and I are in classes at Florida International University. The
ceramics studio is at the edge of campus (so smoke from firing doesn't get
sucked into ventilation systems of other buildings). The open room of the
kilns and largest work area is fenced to the ceiling with hurricane fencing,
electronic security gates on one side and chained/padlocked gates at the
back. We do not have a buddy policy. We are given the combination to the
padlocks and told if we are there after dark that we should lock the gates
shut even if we are not alone because anyone working away from the others
(semi-alone) could be targeted. We are careful to canvass the building
before leaving at night to let everyone else there know we are leaving, both
so they will know they are closer to being left alone and so the person(s)
left know we are safely gone and not "snatched". Women watch each other
walk to their cars, check for intruders hiding inside, and give an okay
signal to those watching from inside. There is a telephone which is never
locked from use. Because of the remoteness of the building from the rest of
campus, campus security checks it twice as often. Lights are never turned
completely off--if they are, security goes in an makes a full sweep because
everyone knows to leave at least two lights on. The last person out does
not leave alone. He or she calls security and can be watched by security as
they go to their car, or if they live on campus, they are driven to their
dorm.
Good strategies, and we have never had a problem. Except when the work
comes out of the kiln badly and students attack the bad work! But people
are not in danger.
Michele Williams
Jeff Lawrence on fri 22 mar 02
becky schroeder wrote:
> sure as hell sounds reasonable and responsible to me. you don't have a
> young woman for a daughter do you or you wouldn't wonder. anyone want to
> disagree with, me let me at em.
Wow, Becky. That's some serious tough talk! Did you really
mean to call anyone who disagrees with you a bad parent?
Sounds like personal safety is a real issue some places, and
a buddy system could well make sense there. Since big crimes in
my town are pot-smoking high schoolers and speeders,the policy
here is probably more to avoid liability than actual risk.
That being the case, a buddy system is an unnecessary hassle --
a kind of one-size-fits-poorly. It fits me poorly because I
run a small risk of assault myself, being big and ugly. For
another, I know few students, and it feels wierd to arrange
schedules with strangers to avoid a non-existent threat.
Finally, since my wife is from Texas, the only real risk of
bodily injury for me would come from getting too chummy with the
students (mostly young and female).
Why inconvenience everyone for a nominal risk to others? That
is the Tao of the dog in the manger. Why perpetuate groundless
fears? Stress is unhealthy. If you want to be reasonable and
responsible, I'd recommend thinking things through and taking
action proportional to actual risk.
I am proud to say I didn't raise my 18 year old girl to be
Chicken Little.
Thanks to all those who helped answer the question I posed.
Trenchantly yours,
Jeff
Jeff Lawrence
jml@cybermesa.com
william schran on fri 22 mar 02
Jeff - This is a usually a touchy issue with administrators. We used
to have signs all around campus "walk in pairs at night". We're in an
urban setting and folks were concerned after a couple of assaults on
students. Then after a period of time all the signs came down because
the administration didn't want to scare students - go figure!
We have open, unsupervised studios during college operating hours
only. That means 8:30 am - 10:20 pm (when final evening classes
finish). When classes are not in session, the buildings are locked.
This is a community college, so there are no dorms and thus no one on
campus 24/7 except for campus police.
Bill
karen terpstra on fri 22 mar 02
Hi Jeff,
We don't have that policy but I did recommend it one time on my own when
we have a VERY disruptive student.
In our situation, the emergency numbers are by the phone in the studio.
There is also a number to call for escort service to parking lots or
dorms. The rules state on the syllabi that the studio closes at 11:00 pm
each night. Most of us studio prof. have an agreement with the
custodians and security that if no one is causing trouble, they may stay
later.
In this day and age, a few stricter rules might be a good idea. You
never know. 2 years ago we had a homeless person sneaking into the
sculpture studio at night and made his bed in some folded tarps.
Happy firings,
Karen Terpstra
La Crosse, WI
> Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 18:15:13 -0700
> From: Jeff Lawrence
> Subject: university studio hours - what is standard?
>
> Hi,
>
> The local university adminstration has mandated a buddy
> system for studio use for "reasons of safety/security",
> which means there needs to be two people present if anyone
> is present.
>
> Is this a standard practice?
>
> Jeff Lawrence
> jml@cybermesa.com
>
>
Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild on fri 22 mar 02
Local community college requires "instructor present on premises."
Same for local community center program.
Buddy system for safety seems pretty reasonable. Are the same
rules applied to woodworking, metal working, and similar facilities?
Also, are the rules for safety (as in preventing accidents) or
security? I know of a music program that established a buddy
system for practice rooms because of concerns over assaults.
(You couldn't use a practice room unless there was someone
else in the facility - didn't have to be the same room.)
>Hi,
>
>The local university adminstration has mandated a buddy
>system for studio use for "reasons of safety/security",
>which means there needs to be two people present if anyone
>is present.
>
>Is this a standard practice?
>
>Jeff Lawrence
>jml@cybermesa.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bob Nicholson
Webmaster, Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
http://www.ovcag.org/
Working Potter on sat 23 mar 02
I am one who sees this from two perspectives.As a young woman I was no scardy
cat, in fact I often pulled loner all nighters both in the studios and
with the kilns firing away , as a student then later teaching but, I am
divided over this issue now that I know I actually am mortal [translated
-older and wiser].As a young woman ,I saw so much protectionism as ways to
limit women's freedoms as they were often used frequently then that I would
never wish a return to that discriminating mode.
I do understand a University's attempts to limit liability from a business
person's perspective but like many of the post 911 directives at homeland
security the question of how much liberty do we give up for ''security''.So
often the attempts to do anything are after the fact anyhow and usually
ineffective.
Rather than the restrictive buddy system[wouldn't have worked nor appealed
to me at all ,loner at my work time/hours that I am], it would be better to
have available phones that work on lines not easily cut, security checks
when a person is in studios as intruders are not the only possible
danger[i.e. machinery, gas leaks, accidents etc...]even monitored security
camera at entrances/exits used with the student's knowledge might have their
place.Someone knowing who and when use occurrs probably would serve to
help.The schools will be held accountable when anything happens and students
should expect reasonable safety[we could use our key to lock ourself in ,but
if any ONE student wished they could prop a door or lend or even lose a
key,which could negate any security].I have worked in some downright unsafe
places [slept on benches in a basement college studio with 3 firing gas
kilns after mixing clay for classes in the claymixer and pugmill] but
frankly, I would shudder if my daughter, and now grandchildren, were to do
as I did, now.I feel whatever gets institutionalized there should be
student [and possibly parental] input involved and agreed upon.[Limiting
freedoms only causes some of us to break them-the rules- as we came thru the
windows when we were locked out to fire the kilns.]
Misty
Stephani Stephenson on sat 23 mar 02
Here are four different examples I have experienced. All different
'standards'
School #1.
Students could work at night. Prof. requested that we get a signed note
from him...'so and so has permission to work on such a such night' A
formality, but it was easy to do, (though sometimes we did forgot to do
it.) Sometimes we worked all night.
Also the glassblowers worked at night , as the furnaces were going 24
hours a day. They did have to work in teams of 2 and had to let the prof
know they would be working. But in that case a team of 2 was necessary
for glassblowing process.
Also we had two great custodian/janitors who checked in a lot. We made
them coffee mugs and didn't make huge messes for them to clean up.We got
on their good side so they didn't have any reason to complain . I liked
the fact they were there.
It was a small town. Even so ,one night a young woman was murdered on
way home from library, so we were extra cautious after that for awhile.
If a couple of us were working late we'd walk home or to our cars
together. If I was alone and it got to be 3 or 4 AM, sometimes I would
work till daylight, sometimes ride my bike home anyway. But we had good
access to studio anytime.
The administration didn't really like the fact we were there, but our
prof. advocated for it . In return , we were responsible about the
privilege, didn't abuse it or the studio..., made sure the outer doors
were properly closed when we came and went , no drinking, no drugs, no
carelessness, etc.... so that we didn't lose the privilege.
school #2 was open all the time, no real rules or security . It was kind
of creepy as people you never saw would walk through. We had episodic
periods of burglary. This school had a graduate program. I worked late
often, almost always others were working late too, almost a 'night
shift' if you will. If it was just one or two others I would generally
check in with them...."so how late are you working tonight?" Also the
campus was installing 'call boxes' and emergency push buttons on campus
There was one outside the studio.. I lived just on the edge of campus. I
was physically assaulted outside my student duplex at about 5 AM one
early morning, by a hopped up drug deranged maniac. I didn't turn into
Chicken Little, but it happened.
school # 3: I taught at a place where studio was closed at 6 PM. One
night a week there was an assistant who kept studio open till 9 PM.
Campus rule, no exceptions. Prof. and assistant had keys to bldg. and
tended kilns if need be after hours. This was a small community college
program, with an emphasis on beginning students. Not a haven for oft
returning students and semi pros . This was also a department policy
school #4: I worked at a University and also worked late nights on
displays, etc. in the Bookstore. Wasn't involved with ceramic studio
there but for all students and staff, the University had a very nice ,
student staffed 'escort' service. You would just call campus security ,
they would send two students over to escort you from whatever building
you were in to your car. They were really great about it. If the student
escorts weren't there, the campus security was happy to do it, as
things were pretty slow that time of night. This was a very nice
service and I used it a lot. why not? Men could use it too!
Stephani Stephenson
Carlsbad Ca
Lori Richter on sat 23 mar 02
> becky schroeder wrote:
> > sure as hell sounds reasonable and responsible to me. you don't have a
> > young woman for a daughter do you or you wouldn't wonder. anyone want
to
> > disagree with, me let me at em.
>
> Wow, Becky. That's some serious tough talk! Did you really
> mean to call anyone who disagrees with you a bad parent?
>
> Sounds like personal safety is a real issue some places, and
> a buddy system could well make sense there. Since big crimes in
> my town are pot-smoking high schoolers and speeders,the policy
> here is probably more to avoid liability than actual risk.
>
> That being the case, a buddy system is an unnecessary hassle --
> a kind of one-size-fits-poorly. It fits me poorly because I
> run a small risk of assault myself, being big and ugly. For
> another, I know few students, and it feels wierd to arrange
> schedules with strangers to avoid a non-existent threat.
> Finally, since my wife is from Texas, the only real risk of
> bodily injury for me would come from getting too chummy with the
> students (mostly young and female).
>
> Why inconvenience everyone for a nominal risk to others? That
> is the Tao of the dog in the manger. Why perpetuate groundless
> fears? Stress is unhealthy. If you want to be reasonable and
> responsible, I'd recommend thinking things through and taking
> action proportional to actual risk.
>
> I am proud to say I didn't raise my 18 year old girl to be
> Chicken Little.
Jeff,
I'm with Becky on this one - tough talk, yes, but these can be tough times
no matter who or where you are. As a woman who works late into the night
more often than not and mother of a 20-year-old female student, personal
safety is an issue that I take very seriously - even though we could both
take care of ourselves if it came right down to it - but, why should it?
In most cases there probably isn't anything to worry about. I do believe,
though, that common sense should be used even if you ARE "big and ugly" or
an "18-year-old who hasn't been raised to be Chicken Little". If this is
all the administration is asking of you, I'd say you're getting off pretty
easy. And, just because YOU are "big and ugly" and not concerned doesn't
mean that some petite, young thing isn't scared silly trying to get to her
car in the dark by herself...
Our campus is not a large one, and like your area, not prone to violent
crimes. The school is situated just outside of town in an area that is just
beginning to be heavily populated, and as such, is still fairly isolated.
There have been, on occasion, reports of transients on the premises - not
many, but there have also been an increasing number of break-ins and damage
to vehicles in the parking lots in the past year.
Our administration requires the employees to notify security of their
presence on campus when coming in or working late during "closed campus" or
odd hours. (I respect this and appreciate the wisdom of the request - in
case of an emergency, they can't help if they don't know I'm there.)
We aren't required to use a "buddy system" as such, but most of the faculty,
staff and students have an "unwritten/unspoken rule" in that no one is left
alone at late hours (you know - that common sense thing).
The security staff (real police, by the way, with real uniforms, side arms
and very real attitudes...) make it their business to know the employees and
students and the strange schedules we all keep. If we're working late (no
matter whether it's staff or students - in any part of the campus), they're
aware of it and check on us from time to time and ask us to leave if it gets
too late. However, just because a good security staff is on the premises
and they're on their toes doesn't mean that something can't or won't go
wrong. Last time I checked, these guys only had eyes in the front of their
heads and couldn't be in more than one place at any given time.........
OK - rant over - let the arrows fly.
Lori
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