VANDALISM RAMPANT IN STUDENT RESIDENCE

Damage Runs Into Thousands of Dollars

by Jordana Feist

Something is really moving at
the University of Northern
British Columbia - but it
shouldn’t be. Petty theft and
vandalism are preying on the
university’s coffers to the tune
of 4000 dollars a month on
average. Unfortunately, that
doesn’t include the cost of
repairing the damage incurred
by vandalism and theft in
residence. In an interview,
John Crooks, Maintenance and
Operations Manager,
commented, "For every 3400
dollars that we put out on
vandalism, theft and breakage
is a great computer for the lab
that we won’t be able to buy
this year."

A great many things are
finding their way from where
they belong in residence. Some
of these things, useless to most
people, are essential to the
safety of the people who live
in residence. Articles like fire
hoses and fire bells have been
taken or vandalized. Not only
does this cost the students who
live in res the cost.of replacing
them, but also the
recertification of these items as
they have to be checked by a
fire safety standards board to

Under the Covers

“Ombuds? What's
that?

prevent the university from
being liable for any accidents
that may occur from faulty
equipment. Just recently an
evacuation planning plaque
went missing from residence.
Randall Brazzoni, Housing
Manager at the university was
shocked that someone would
take something like that.
Brazzoni said in an interview
that, “the majority of them [the
fire evacuation plaques] get
torn from the wall and put in
the garbage can and I think that
is a real waste.” The cost of
replacing the plaque will cost
the students upwards of 100
dollars after installation. That
is a hundred dollars that could
be better spent elsewhere.

ee ee
"for every 3400 dollars
lthat we put out on
‘vandalism, theft and
‘breakage is a great
computer for the lab that
we won’t be able to buy
ithis year"

residence knows of. the horror
stories of the elevators. What
_most people don’t know is that

Page 7 - Letters
to the Editor

Page 10 -

the elevators don’t suffer from
some chronic elevator disease.
They actually fall prey
regularly to people who think
it is fun to pull the wires that
control the doors. So next time
you get stuck in the elevators
don’t curse the poor
maintenance -curse your
fellow student. Along with the
elevators comes the story of the
telephone in the res 2 elevator
that has been replaced 8 times
at the cost of 150 dollars a

shot. As a cost saving method

1a tamper proof phone is being

installed at a cost of 800
‘dollars, and even that is a
discount for our excellent
patronage of Montgomery
Kone Elevator, the actual cost
of the phone is 2500 dollars. In
‘res 1 you will note the absence
of the chrome handle bars in
the elevator, as the continual
damage done by people taking
them off has resulted in their
permanent removal. Crooks
said that the elevator has to be
repaired weekly.

Not only is there damage to
the common areas but there is
damage to the private suites.
What is not obvious is that it
is not just the intentional
damage but also the damages
incurred by neglect. This
includes damage done from
water running down shower

curtains that are not places
inside the tub that results in
water damage that goes from
floor to ceiling. This damage
could prove to be the most
costly of all with a projected
cost of 20,000 dollars. Not
only would a bill like this
affect the return of damage
deposits but it would probably
mean a rent increase for
everybody.Brazzoni stated
simply, "We could have put a
computer lab in residence for
the cost - money we have paid
out in repairing vandalism”.
The result of the damages in
the private suites is a new
policy of determining damage.
When a student moves into his
or her suite a checklist of all

the things wrong, if any, will -

be presented to the student.
Then if one of the people in the
suite decides to move out part
way through the year or
semester the entire suite will
undergo an_ inspection.
Damages will be assessed at
this time for the common areas
and the room of the person
moving out. The residents of
the suite will then be charged
accordingly and repairs made
to the private room. At the time
when the room will be filled
yet another inspection will
occur so that the new person
moving in will not be

responsible for any damages in
the common area that was there
before they moved in but was
not there when the last person
moved out. This is a much
more comprehensive system
and it has been designed to be
as fair as possible to all
students, Brazzoni commented
that they try to-be very tolerant
and realize that for many
students this is their first time
away from home and that a
certain amount of general wear
and tear is to be expected.
Brazzoni and Crooks urge the
students to be more responsible
for their actions and to come
forward with any information
on damage they have incurred
themselves or with ‘any
information on who may be

vandalizing residence.
Brazzoni expressed his
assurance of complete

anonymity for anyone wishing
to come forward with any
information. As it stands now,
steps are being taken by res
council towards creating a
program much like a
community watch. Anyone
who might be interested in
coming forward should be
aware that their identity will be
concealed by the freedom of
information act.

oS ae ee eee)
“sometimes the students
forget what we really

have here”
a ee eS
To be honest with ourselves,
we have the nicest and newest
residences in British Columbia.
What is the point of treating
them badly, when it only drives
up the cost of living in
residence? Brazzoni
comments, “Sometimes the
students forget what we really
have here.” Brazzoni also
commented, “Residence is not
inexpensive...we [housing
staff] want to get across to the
students that most of this can
be prevented and res could be
kept vandalism free for the
next 10 years.”