CCTV installation inside classrooms, buildings draws mixed reactions
According to Artlets dean Michael Anthony Vasco, the Faculty administration was informed by University authorities during the summer break that the installation of the CCTV cameras will push through.
He added that the installation will cover all classrooms, hallways, dean’s offices, and other public places.
Vasco added that the St. Raymund de Peñafort building, housing both the Faculty and the College of Commerce and Business Administration, was the sixth building to have the security device.
However, Vasco said that not all of the CCTV cameras installed in the Faculty are already working since some of the cables are still being installed. The question on who will have the authority to monitor the device’s recorded videos is still yet to be discussed by the administration.
A number of technical concerns regarding the device’s installation remain unanswered as the Facilities Management Office (FMO), the office directly in-charge of executing the directive, refused to answer queries until the installation throughout the University is completed.
Security Detachment Commander Joseph Badinas said that they have not yet received any formal or final instructions from the administration about the matter.
“The installation of CCTV cameras is still on-going. There are technicalities that still need to be addressed,” Badinas said in Filipino.
Security vs. intrusion
Vasco explained further that the reason behind the installation of cameras is to intensify the security in the University.
“It is not intended to monitor academic performance,” he said.
Vasco also noted that CCTVs are installed in public areas to monitor the activities in the building that will ensure the safety of the University’s community and property.
“The purpose of the CCTV is to protect the University’s property and also its subjects and constituents,” he said. “If there is disturbance of peace, it is already captured and recorded,” he added, saying that the administration can easily investigate illegal activities in the University.
When asked as to how the system will operate regarding the monitoring of the CCTV cameras per college by the FMO, Vasco admittedly said that they were not given instructions as to how this will be addressed.
“Well, we do not know the mechanics yet because it was just newly installed. Perhaps that will come later but in the meantime, it is the FMO and the security office who will take charge of monitoring these things, not the dean’s offices.”
Mixed reactions
According to Faculty president Arlo Salvador, majority of the Artlets professors are not in favor of the installation of CCTVs. However, he added that if one is going to review the law regarding this matter, there is no legal violation committed in its installation since a classroom is a public place.
“Whether we (Faculty members) agree or not, UST has the right to install CCTV cameras in the classrooms,” he said in Filipino.
Salvador added that the type of CCTV installed in classrooms does not capture audio in its recordings.
For Artlets Student Council Treasurer Mark Quitoy, he finds nothing wrong with the installation of CCTV cameras. However, he believes that the system of its implementation is improperly exercised.
“The administration has the authority to implement rules without asking the student body for feedback, but it is important that the students are properly informed,” he said, adding that proper information would give the students time to adjust on the new system.
Quitoy added that the issue on CCTV cameras will continuously draw different reactions depending on how students will look at it.
Salvador, on the other hand, is personally in favor of the CCTV cameras. According to him, installation of this device will heighten up the security measures implemented in the University.
However, some students were adamant over the issue, saying that CCTV cameras are not necessary.
“I have nothing against it (security reasons) but basically, it is not necessary. They should have opted to buy chairs instead since most of the chairs we have now are vandalized,” a male student who refused to be named said. F
He added that the installation will cover all classrooms, hallways, dean’s offices, and other public places.
Vasco added that the St. Raymund de Peñafort building, housing both the Faculty and the College of Commerce and Business Administration, was the sixth building to have the security device.
However, Vasco said that not all of the CCTV cameras installed in the Faculty are already working since some of the cables are still being installed. The question on who will have the authority to monitor the device’s recorded videos is still yet to be discussed by the administration.
A number of technical concerns regarding the device’s installation remain unanswered as the Facilities Management Office (FMO), the office directly in-charge of executing the directive, refused to answer queries until the installation throughout the University is completed.
Security Detachment Commander Joseph Badinas said that they have not yet received any formal or final instructions from the administration about the matter.
“The installation of CCTV cameras is still on-going. There are technicalities that still need to be addressed,” Badinas said in Filipino.
Security vs. intrusion
Vasco explained further that the reason behind the installation of cameras is to intensify the security in the University.
“It is not intended to monitor academic performance,” he said.
Vasco also noted that CCTVs are installed in public areas to monitor the activities in the building that will ensure the safety of the University’s community and property.
“The purpose of the CCTV is to protect the University’s property and also its subjects and constituents,” he said. “If there is disturbance of peace, it is already captured and recorded,” he added, saying that the administration can easily investigate illegal activities in the University.
When asked as to how the system will operate regarding the monitoring of the CCTV cameras per college by the FMO, Vasco admittedly said that they were not given instructions as to how this will be addressed.
“Well, we do not know the mechanics yet because it was just newly installed. Perhaps that will come later but in the meantime, it is the FMO and the security office who will take charge of monitoring these things, not the dean’s offices.”
Mixed reactions
According to Faculty president Arlo Salvador, majority of the Artlets professors are not in favor of the installation of CCTVs. However, he added that if one is going to review the law regarding this matter, there is no legal violation committed in its installation since a classroom is a public place.
“Whether we (Faculty members) agree or not, UST has the right to install CCTV cameras in the classrooms,” he said in Filipino.
Salvador added that the type of CCTV installed in classrooms does not capture audio in its recordings.
For Artlets Student Council Treasurer Mark Quitoy, he finds nothing wrong with the installation of CCTV cameras. However, he believes that the system of its implementation is improperly exercised.
“The administration has the authority to implement rules without asking the student body for feedback, but it is important that the students are properly informed,” he said, adding that proper information would give the students time to adjust on the new system.
Quitoy added that the issue on CCTV cameras will continuously draw different reactions depending on how students will look at it.
Salvador, on the other hand, is personally in favor of the CCTV cameras. According to him, installation of this device will heighten up the security measures implemented in the University.
However, some students were adamant over the issue, saying that CCTV cameras are not necessary.
“I have nothing against it (security reasons) but basically, it is not necessary. They should have opted to buy chairs instead since most of the chairs we have now are vandalized,” a male student who refused to be named said. F
Issues
A year after installing Closed-Circuit Television Cameras throughout the campus, the University steps up its security measures by bringing the device inside buildings and classrooms.
THE INSTALLATION of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) inside classrooms and buildings of the University gained various criticisms from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) community saying that the directive may certainly beef up the security within the University’s premises but all at the expense of closely watching the supposed-to-be unguarded and uncensored class discussions between students and professors.
THE INSTALLATION of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) inside classrooms and buildings of the University gained various criticisms from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) community saying that the directive may certainly beef up the security within the University’s premises but all at the expense of closely watching the supposed-to-be unguarded and uncensored class discussions between students and professors.
Year 47 | Issue 1 | 2011
By KRISTINE ELIZABETH B. DIHIANSAN and CARISSA R. CARAIG
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