CASE promises tighter security measures after student raped on campus

 

The students say security measures have been lax, but the school says it has been working to rectify the gaps while providing support to the victim.

 

On Monday, frustration spilled onto the Portland-based campus as placard-bearing students protested against the alleged rape, chanting "No means no!"

 

The act has triggered urgent questions about safety and security from students like Nackelia Jackson, a fourth-year student who contends that Sunday's assault was not the first. 

 

She said the incident has changed how students move through the campus, many questioning if the compound is secured at all. 

 

"This is the second rape that has taken place here since I've been apart of this institution. And for the first rape, things were implemented for one month; for one month we saw security and everything, but after that, the campus is literally a free for all. The cameras are at the goat unit and at the farm. Why the animals are getting more security than us?" she questioned. 

 

"The school did not say anything to us; we found this out through the Gleaner," the student further contended, calling the situation "foolishness".

 

Responding to the concerns, CASE President Dr. Derrick Deslandes said discussions are underway to further bolster the security of the campus.

 

"It's a massive campus. It's very difficult to secure. We have a lot of assets, so we have to guard against theft in every sphere you can think of. I am hoping, I have had a preliminary discussion with the ministry and we have promised a proposal to them in terms of what we think the security apparatus should look like," he said, noting that the proposal would likely request the establishment of a security manager as well as a security supervisor that will provide monitoring service for both day and night. 

 

The student protesters called for tighter security measures and clear accountability from school administrators.

 

Responding to the concerns about accountability, the president said the school had not released a statement on the incident because "we were waiting for a meeting with the student body as to what her plans are". In the meantime, he said the school is providing an on-call service to transport students as it tries to "plug the initial gaps" and "[do] what we can with what we have". 

 

Another student, Jordan Stephens, said the previous measures implemented by the institution have proven ineffective as other students have been victims of assault this year.

 

"I have a classmate, earlier this year she was also attacked. But she was not defiled that way but she got away. This was earlier in the year, and later in the year something like this happens again. Obviously, what they have in place is not working. If you go around there right now you can see that the area is heavily vegetated. The fence line itself is poor," he complained.