By Elizabeth Bowers
Staff Writer
Archived from May 2010
Students, teachers, and staff members of Tennessee Wesleyan College should feel very secure in the knowledge that security at TWC is as efficient and caring as it is. I had a chance to sit down with Jack Tallent, a security officer who has been at the school for three years, to learn a bit more about what our security does and some of the services they offer.
Security at TWC is always on the job. There are several officers on campus at all times. They make rounds across campus, looking for anything or anyone that does not belong. “If we see a car,” Tallent says, “that we do not recognize, we investigate. We track down the person that is driving it, and if they do not belong, we tell them to leave. If they are really causing trouble, we call the police because we work very closely with the police department and the fire department.” Several times during the night, the night guards make rounds not only across campus, but through the halls of the dorms, making sure everything is the way it should be. They also do runs to and from the library and classes for students who do not want to go across campus in the dark until midnight.
If there is any problem, if a student sees someone who seems to be making trouble, a car that does not belong, or even feels threatened in the slightest, then they can call security. The number of the security office, explained Tallent, is posted all across campus. Their number one priority is to help out and keep students, teachers, and staff safe. “We don’t just give tickets and try to stick our hands in your pockets,” Tallent insisted. “We want everyone to feel safe.” Besides all of this, they do other odd jobs around the campus if someone needs a hand. If a person is locked out of their car, a security officer will always come to the rescue. Likewise, if someone has locked themselves out of their dorm, they can call immediately, and someone will be over to let them in. Mr. Tallent said that they actually try to get there before the person who called does so that they do not have to stand alone outside of the dorm waiting.
No matter what the situation, if you or someone you know is feeling threatened or you get locked out of your car or dorm, you should not hesitate to call security. These officers are not just here to give tickets and get people in trouble—their main purpose on the campus is to protect us from anything or anyone that might pose a threat. Even if you do not have a problem, next time you see one of our uniformed security guards, stop and tell them how much you appreciate them and what they do for us. Our excellent security is one of the reasons that Tennessee Wesleyan College is such a safe learning environment for college students.
