Everyday the battle between chaos and order at the University of Calgary is waged behind the scenes, away from the public eye. The men and women of campus security put themselves at risk and deserve respect. We at the Gauntlet salute them every several months with a recap of the dangerous and strange events they deal with.
These are the true stories of the U of C campus security beat.
August
Number of Reports – 98
Total Loss – $11,424.94
A student in residence was trapped inside a washroom for several hours as a result of a lock mechanism malfunction. The Calgary Fire Department was called to pry open the door.
Security was contacted because a student on the sixth floor of the arts building said he was threatened by an unknown man with a knife. A subsequent search revealed nothing.
Security observed an individual via CCTV breaking into newspaper boxes in the south bus loop near Murray Fraser Hall. After a brief struggle, security arrested the man for theft of coins. The individual was also in possession of crack cocaine paraphernalia.
Security responded to a male acting suspiciously who, when questioned, gave vague and alarming answers. The man was arrested on several outstanding warrants as a sex offender.
“We didn’t know he was a sex offender until we called the police,” said U of C campus security director Lanny Fritz. “We were able to identify him and then when we contacted police they had a history with him.”
The final Summer Den party had several reports of vandalism including graffiti and broken windows.
“There’s less activity in the bar in the summer time, but it’s not like there’s no incidences,” said Fritz. “There’s just less than compared to September or October.”
Fritz said campus security is partnering with the SU to bring in an extra officer for Thursday nights at the bar, which he hopes will help increase safety.
September
Number of Reports – 138
Total Loss – $24,554
A group of teens in the kinesiology building were issued tickets by police for possession of a BB gun.
Security responded to reports of a snake loose in the basement of the ICT building. After determining the garter snake was not related to any research projects, it was released outside.
A male student was found unconscious in the Engineering Building “C-Block lounge” after he accidentally overdosed on alcohol and prescription drugs. EMS took the student to hospital where he later told campus security he spent 45 hours in a coma.
A teenaged non-student approached a U of C student on campus and asked her to kill the teenager for $100. The teen told the student she had intended to kill herself by jumping in front of a car. After campus security arrived and talked to the teen while waiting for police she took out a concealed sewing needle and stabbed herself in the throat. EMS attended and took the girl to hospital.
“She had some serious mental health problems,” said Fritz. “She wandered onto campus, she was not a student, she had no affiliation with the university.”
Fritz said suicides aren’t a prevalent issue at the school.
While on patrol in Math Sciences, Campus Security heard people running over their heads. Security found three men drinking beer on the roof of Science A. One student among the group told security he had heard it was a “popular pursuit” on campus.
“I think it has to do with inhibitions of people that have been drinking,” said Fritz, trying to think of a reason people are climbing on the school. “We do have several construction sites here, so I suspect some of these party goers just find it too tempting.”
Security was advised of two groups of intoxicated and combative Den patrons fighting with one another after leaving the bar. The groups were verbally taunting each other and one male was punched and kicked in the face. Both parties were escorted off campus.
October
Number of Reports – 151
Total Loss – $59,982.97
The Calgary Fire Department arrived at the MacEwan Student Centre after a Den patron activated several fire alarms after leaving a party. The building was evacuated and an unruly group of people formed outside. Police arrested one man before the crowd dispersed.
Security attended to the Engineering F-Block roof after three students were seen and heard shouting in the area.
The three intoxicated students stated they were conducting weather-related research. All three were escorted off the roof.
Security provided first-aid attention and called EMS for two female students suffering from alcohol poisoning. Both had collapsed and were unconscious when they were taken to hospital.
Campus security responded to complaints of a male displaying homophobic hate literature on campus in the parkade.
“It’s a case that’s presently before the courts,” said Fritz. “He’s an individual that puts literature on the windshield wipers of cars in parking lots at the University of Saskatchewan.”
Fritz said the man was charged in Saskatchewan and went to court where his behaviour was deemed legal. Afterwards, he came to Calgary and repeated his behaviour, prompting complaints from students.
“We asked him to leave and he refused,” said Fritz. “So we charged him with trespassing. That case is before the courts.”
Security received reports of 30-40 students running across tables in MacHall while consuming alcohol. The group was identified as first-year engineering students and the matter was left to the faculty to resolve.
A homeless female, known to both security and police, was found on campus. The woman, who has known mental health issues, was escorted off campus.
Security responded to a report that a man had collapsed outside of the Den after a day of drinking, finally falling unconscious in a pool of his own vomit.
Security was notified of unlawful entry into the Rogers store in Science B. Cash and a large number of cell phones were stolen after the culprits removed door locks to gain entry.
Fritz said the spike in total losses for October can be attributed to the Rogers theft.
Security found a student vehicle with a fraudulent parking pass. The engineering student had photocopied a real pass to avoid paying. The vehicle was seized and the student faced towing charges as well as fines.