Dorschel prioritizes security upgrades, camera system
University of Idaho Executive Director of Public Safety and Security Matt Dorschel is working with upper-level administrators to secure funds to support security upgrades related to the university’s firearm policy.
UI upgraded its firearm policy in August to reflect a bill passed by Idaho lawmakers last spring to allow individuals with an enhanced concealed carry permit to carry firearms on college campuses.
Dorschel submitted a proposal requesting about $580,000 to install security cameras on campus, hire a security system manager and to fund technology infrastructure upgrades to support new equipment. While no money has been spent yet, Dorschel said it’s imperative it be done.
“One of the things that became clear in the aftermath of that law being passed was that the perception of campus safety was heavily impacted,” Dorschel said. “(Parents) were having second thoughts about sending their son or daughter to the University of Idaho. And in my mind, I think this proposal addresses a lot of those concerns.”
Dorschel said his proposal, or budget request, was originally submitted to UI’s Board of Regents last fall, where it was rejected. Now, he plans to work with UI’s executive team to try and find internal funds to back the proposal.
Dorschel called the proposal “modest,” and said it would align UI with peer institutions, respective to the amount of resources dedicated to campus security.
Dorschel said he has been an advocate for UI security upgrades for a long time.
“We didn’t tie the need for security cameras to the new law initially,” Dorschel said. “But as we discussed it more at the senior level … we saw general public safety upgrades could also be needed for the new firearm policy.”
The major request, Dorschel said, is installing security cameras on campus near the entrances and exits of buildings, as well as in highly populated areas. He said cameras would allow UI to better react to crimes or dangerous incidents on campus.
He said the proposal also includes the means to establish a campus dispatch and monitoring system in the campus security office.
“It would give us an opportunity to observe when we receive reports and then to respond quickly,” Dorschel said. “We could assist responders from our law enforcement agency because we would have real time data from those security cameras.”
The request for funds also takes into account the salary of a new security system manager, who Dorshel said would be tasked with maintaining the security systems, overseeing their functions and generally being an expert on the new equipment.
Also included in the proposal is supplemental funding for the hardware and software needed to introduce new equipment and security systems.
Earlier this month, the Idaho Statesman printed a story implying Idaho colleges and universities have spent $3.7 million on security upgrades pertaining to the new law, with UI’s share being $580,000. Dorschel said the story was flawed because UI has not spent any money yet to accommodate the new firearm policy, with the exception of stickers placed on buildings.
“(They were) not accurate in their reporting,” he said.
Dorschel said the story did accurately portray the funding needs of Idaho’s colleges and universities to comply with the law. Dorschel said UI’s Student Satisfaction Inventory shows students continually ranked public safety as the third most important indicator in determining where they decided to go to school.
Dorschel said the proposal’s security upgrade requests would go far in ensuring safety on UI’s campus.
“Certainly it should show that we are committed to doing those things that make this a really safe place to attend school and work at,” he said. “I think our proposal, first of all it’s modest and secondly I think it addresses a real need, and I would love to be able to tell the parents of prospective students that we’re doing these things.”
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]