2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsOur View: Security cameras necessary to extent
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
We would like to think that most college students live with the benefit of never knowing what it feels like to be tasered. That list of students just became one smaller when a Florida college student met the business end of a taser at a speech given by Senator John Kerry.
This incident is brought up in conjunction with some new information regarding our fair campus. Apparently the powers that be have chosen to sufficiently ramp up the use of security around the university with an emphasis on completion by the year 2017; be sure to lock your cars at that point as it seems that an increase in crime would almost be necessary to warrant the expenditure.
Members of the editorial board at The Standard are not completely sold on this new security measure. Reasons for disapproval were almost universally on the side of this very important right to privacy. After all, who wants to feel as though they are constantly being watched while they blow their noses? However, there were also reasons to side with the importance of cameras.
One view is that anything that may help defend someone against the wrongs of society can only be a good thing. This, of course, would advocate the partial loss of some personal freedoms, but we are almost certain that these cameras that are being added to the campus will not result in a complete loss of privacy.
There are still and will always be those sacred places where no camera will ever record a second of footage (legally): the restroom, your own home, a fitting room, etc.
In addition, without the use of cameras the Florida college student from above would not have the benefit of minutes of infamy on the internet and the police involved would not have the benefit of truth. If a picture speaks a thousand words, that video will certainly be full of words with regards to an almost guaranteed lawsuit.
The world has become a scary place and if it takes a few cameras to protect us from any injustice, then so be it.
With these additional security measures, we only hope that privacy is still taken into account. At some point, we will have all the cameras we need, and any more will become intrusive.
So bring on the cameras, for now
This incident is brought up in conjunction with some new information regarding our fair campus. Apparently the powers that be have chosen to sufficiently ramp up the use of security around the university with an emphasis on completion by the year 2017; be sure to lock your cars at that point as it seems that an increase in crime would almost be necessary to warrant the expenditure.
Members of the editorial board at The Standard are not completely sold on this new security measure. Reasons for disapproval were almost universally on the side of this very important right to privacy. After all, who wants to feel as though they are constantly being watched while they blow their noses? However, there were also reasons to side with the importance of cameras.
One view is that anything that may help defend someone against the wrongs of society can only be a good thing. This, of course, would advocate the partial loss of some personal freedoms, but we are almost certain that these cameras that are being added to the campus will not result in a complete loss of privacy.
There are still and will always be those sacred places where no camera will ever record a second of footage (legally): the restroom, your own home, a fitting room, etc.
In addition, without the use of cameras the Florida college student from above would not have the benefit of minutes of infamy on the internet and the police involved would not have the benefit of truth. If a picture speaks a thousand words, that video will certainly be full of words with regards to an almost guaranteed lawsuit.
The world has become a scary place and if it takes a few cameras to protect us from any injustice, then so be it.
With these additional security measures, we only hope that privacy is still taken into account. At some point, we will have all the cameras we need, and any more will become intrusive.
So bring on the cameras, for now
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Robert Myers
posted 9/24/07 @ 5:30 PM NA
First things first, kudos to the Standard for writting and printing this view point. Second of all, I'm hoping to beat the deluge of letters saying that security cameras in public spaces are violating our right to privacy. (Continued…)
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