One of LSU’s most popular student hangout spots may soon have a new security measure in place.
A resolution proposed by Student Government senator Joanie Lyons to appropriate funds for a security camera placed on the LSU Parade Ground was introduced at the Student Senate’s first meeting of the semester and sent to the budget and appropriations committee. During the committee’s meeting last week, the bill was pulled, and Lyons is applying for the issue to be picked up by the university’s risk management account.
When first introducing the resolution at the Aug. 26 meeting, Lyons described it as a “finance bill to allocate a maximum of $4,000 and zero cents from the Student Government initiatives account to LSUPD to provide a security camera and power operations to the LSU Parade Ground.”
Lyons said the idea emerged last semester after students expressed the need for an added security measure.
Currently, LSUPD uses a camera outside the Paul M. Hebert Law Center to investigate issues on the Parade Ground, but it only provides a view of half the area, Lyons said.
“We had been working with LSUPD on a couple of different areas where we needed camera redistribution or where they needed more cameras in general,” Lyons said. “The Parade Ground was an important one for sure.”
According to the LSUPD crime log, three thefts were reported on the Parade Ground this month. All three are listed as inactive, meaning there have been no additional investigative leads or the victim requested the issue not be pursued. Two medical emergencies in the area were also listed on the log.
Human resource freshman Brooke Brignac said she thinks adding a camera is a good idea, and there should probably be more cameras outside of major campus buildings.
Though pre-medical technologies junior Blythe Alley said the exterior of buildings might need more surveillance, some students might see the Parade Ground cameras as an invasion of privacy.
Lyons said the senate would have provided funds for the camera’s purchase, but, due to financial issues, LSUPD would pay to get power to the Parade Ground. The total cost of the project would be around $14,000, Lyons said.
The bill was pulled because the senate’s initiatives fund is filled every spring semester and is used throughout the year.
With funds starting to run low, Lyons said, the budget committee wanted to see if it could fall under the realm of risk management. The camera would have drained much of the remaining budget and not allow the senate to help with events around campus.