Plan may cut thefts in Snell
By Zac Estrada, News Staff
Laptop combination locks for students working in Snell Library to lock their laptops will be available as early as this month, a move that could slash the number of computer thefts at Northeastern.
The university’s Student Government Association (SGA) is working in conjunction with library officials to start a pilot program to offer the theft-deterrent devices for rental at the front desk of Snell.
The devices for the pilot program were purchased with funds from the Provost’s office.
“It’s already proven students want this,” SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Sabo said. “Other schools offer something like this already.”
Sabo, who announced the initiative Monday during SGA’s weekly meeting as part of his mid-year report, said he had been working with Lesley Milner, associate dean of library user services, to get funds for locks and anchors.
Sabo said the 10 lock and anchor sets purchased from Amazon.com cost less than $20 each.
Kirti Kewalramani, a 20-year-old junior health science major, said she would be interested in such a program, even though she hasn’t had anything stolen out of the library and feels her belongings are safe there.
“I do leave my laptop unattended in the library sometimes,” she said. “I’ve never had a problem.”
Kewalramani said she feels better about leaving her electronics alone in the library, but not places like Curry Student Center, which does not require a Husky Card to enter and generally has less security.
While the exact procedures have yet to be finalized, Sabo said he envisioned students going to the front desk at Snell and receiving a lock and combination to borrow for a specific amount of time.
“You’re going to be able to sign them in and out on the first floor,” he said. “You’ll be able to renew it, but I don’t know yet for what amount of time, whether it’ll be an hour or two.”
Middler economics major Jimmy Filter said he could see such a program being helpful, although he said he doesn’t walk away from his belongings unless friends are watching them.
“I think you should keep an eye on your stuff,” Filter said.
He said that with the amount of thefts reported around campus he thinks a lock rental would cut down on stolen laptops.
For now, the pilot program limits the locks to use on the first floor. Sabo said that’s where he anticipates most of the demand is likely to be. But he hopes to soon expand the program to other floors if the tests prove successful over the coming months.
The locks pilot program is the latest in a number of security measures made at Snell. Over the winter break, security cameras were also installed.
Sabo said a new library student council will start monitoring student needs in Snell and continue finding issues to be addressed. Two senators and three other students appointed by Milner, who do not have affiliation with SGA, will sit on the council.
