tElje (JnMan jj Tuesday, March 31,1987 Siena College, Albany, New York Volume XXI, Ho.JBT^ Several Thefts Reported, Many are Labeled Preventable By JOSEPH GILDAY News Reporter McLaughlin noted also that a salad bar The Siena community has recently canopy valued at $400 was stolen from the experienced several thefts, just as it has Rathskellar. This cart was vandalized, as every year. well. As of March 4th, there have been In a separate incident, a set of billiard approximately 40 reported occurences of balls were taken two days after a new pool theft since September of 1986, according table was installed in the Rat. to William Kelley, Director of Security. McLaughlin doesn't see any prospect of Twenty more larcenies had been reported cafeteria thefts dwindling in the near future. at this period in time a year ago. "It's like trying to stay in a race that you "You're not going to have a group this can't win," she said.- large without having someone capable of "Another form of theft is going into a stealing," said Kelley. person's room and taking student IDs so The list of purloined items is extensive, a friend can eat for free," said Dean of ranging from license plates and car stereo Students Nancy DaPore, who disciplines speakers to coats and cash. The college Siena students guilty of theft. Resident Assistant Maureen O'Connor (Photo by Faye Corey) itself has been a victim; students have been DaPore has fined about 20 students this caught stealing items as varied as ceiling school year for stealing IDs. Approximately tiles and audiovisual equipment. five students not on the meal plan have According to Kelley, students in Ryan unsuccesfully attempted to sneak into the Resident Assistant Compensation Hall have been the hardest hit of all cafeteria, added DaPore. residents. Students there have reported- "k's very important for students to report Studied — No Increase Likely four incidents of theft. A total of $150 was thefts immediately. You can gather infor­ recently taken from one room. mation better than if you wait a few weeks By FRANK SHANNON "R.A.s should have their own rooms," "There are also three vacuum cleaners later," said DaPore. News Reporter said R.A. Maureen O'Connor. R.A.s are not missing, from before I came here (in Residence director Watson urges stu­ the only persons-who feel this way. "When January)," said Ryan Resident Director dents to report^all thefts, no matter how Resident assistant job requirements and people come to you with a problem at 3 Laura Watson. "We're trying to get them small. Kelley can "synthesize" reports and benefits were recently examined in a study a.m. your roommate is^Hsturbed-" back." objectively find any pattern of theft, Watson ranking Siena among sixteen comparable Plassmann Hall reported just one student said. private colleges. The study pointed out a Housing has calculated the cost of giving theft during the 1986-87 school year, but Security Director Kelley believes that not number of uniquenesses in the Siena job R.A.s their own room to be approximately the hall also suffered the additional theft all thefts are reported. "So many things get description and concluded the level of $115,000. "It will be awhile before we can of two wall clocks and the disappearance stolen that people don't bother reporting financial compensation to R.A.s was give them single rooms, although a choice of $10 from the desk of Resident Director what they lose." 'respectable.' would be nice," said Martin. ' Charles Korn. Another factor which prevents alt victims The level of financial benefits was the single criterion used to rank the college Siena is the only college in the study not "We were asking ourselves 'who would from reportingitheir losses may be the fact to offer this as an option. "The study is want them (the clocks)?' They're pretty that thefts from student rooms usually go ninth out of seventeen. This reflects a new. $586 stipend R.A.s received this year. good but not indicative of what's realty out ugly," said Korn. unsolved. "Without a witness, we're really there," said Martin, adding, "We are one "1 no longer keep money in my desk," at a loss with cases like this," Kelley said. "It's a goal to work for to bring us up in the ranking," said Nancy DaPore, Dean of the few in this area but a lot of other he added. "1 usually keep (vending machine) "The biggest favor you could do for institutions require roommates." refund money in my apartment and fines yourself is to lock your door when you leave of Students, who sent information to include go over to the Business Affairs Office," Korn the room; eliminate the opportunity," he Siena in the study. Also in the study's ranking was St. said. advised. Bonaventure, Siena's sister college, near "I don't know if people have found new The bulk of stolen money comes from "/ think it's important to Buffalo. Ranking third, St. Bonaventure uses for forks and spoons, but we've gone unlocked rooms, Kelley noted. compensate R.A.s for their. gives R.A.s the total cost of the meal plan through thousands, which is higher than "Awareness is the key," Kelley said. "Be work enforcing college policy." as a waiver from tuition but provides for no stipend. usual," said Michele McLaughlin, Saga suspicious of people that are wandering —Jeanne Martin, Food Service Director. around on your floor. Report it to Security, Director of Housing "With a waiver off their tuition they don't . Theft of china and silverware from the who can go over and check out people see any reinforcement," said Martin. R.A. cafeteria haven't been uncommon, acting suspiciously. O'Connor prefers the weekly salary even McLaughlin explained. She estimated that "The time it takes to steal something in "Right now we have no plans over a larger waiver. "If you get a waiver between 1,000 and 1,500 pieces of silver­ the residence halls is less than a minute: to increase the compensation your parents get the benefits," said ware have been taken since December of they step into the room, open the dresser O'Connor. last year. drawer, remove valuables that are easily to R.A.s because it was just "That much silverware doesn't get concealed, step out in the hall, and they increased last budget year." Siena is the only college to indicate other dumped in the garbage," she said. are free and clear," Kelley said. —Nancy Dapore, benefits not listed in the study. DaPore "We try to watch people, but we don't "Many people come from areas where Dean of Students made reference to R.A. perks which include want to engage in Gestapo tactics," there are very low crime rates," he early registration and no long wait in the McLaughlin said. "I bet they don't think it's explained. "They don't recognize the need "Siena's ranking is respectable in the book line. "This is because there are certain even stealing. They rationaUze it, because to keep car doors and their room door study we have done," said Louis Copertino, times we need R.A.s in the dorms," said they pay for the meal plan. locked. Director of Housing at Nazareth College, Martin. "The only thing that's bad about it is that "They're helping the person commit the and initiator of the study as part of a all students pay for it in the form of crime by making it easier for him," con­ proposal for giving Nazareth's R.A.'s more increased board charges," she said. cludes Kelley. §t*^ benefits. "I think it's important to compensate R.A.s for their work enforcing college policy," said Jeanne Martin, Director of WHAT'S INSIDE . Housing. DaPore said, "It's important and we do." The current financial benefit package Elections 6,7 consists of a waiver of tuition for room charges and a weekly salary, equal in total to half the cost of the meal plan to Siena. News 3,5,13 "Right now we have no plans to increase the compensation to R.A. s because it was Notable just increased last budget year," said Narratives 8,9 DaPore. The increase was in the form of a stipend which breaks down to a weekly paycheck Positive of roughly $20. "It's not a lot of money but Vibrations.'... 16,17,18 it's a paycheck directly for students," said Martin. "I would like to see it increased a few dollars for all the work we do," said Sports 23,24 R.A. Steve Ramsey. Martin said, "We wiU ask R.A.s what Nancy DaPore (Dean of Students), responsible for disciplining Siena students guilty benefits they would like to have in the of theft. (Photo by Diane Banino) future." PageS! THE INDIAN March 31, 1987 ANNOUNCEMENTS.. .ANNOUNCEMENTS.. .ANNOUNCEMENTS IBM Gift ARE YOU CUT OUT FOR J-BOARD?? to Siena Members of the Student Judicial Board must possess certain qualities in order to From Your ensure the protection of the common good of the student body. Some, but not all, a $40,000 § of these qualities are confidentiality, availability, responsibility, and adherence to the policies and regulations of Siena College. Healthf Spectrophotometer If you feel that you possess these qualities, then you may want to consider applying A $40,000 atomic absorption spectropho­ your talents to the Student Judicial Board. To learn more about the Student Judicial tometer has been added to the Siena Board, see page 87 in Siena Life (the student handbook).