Security Update: Uneventful Spring Start? DWI and Townhouse Fire

Source: Unsplash, Flex Point Security, https://unsplash.com/photos/ut4dQ0KqsQE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

Despite a relatively “uneventful opening to a semester in terms of behavior issues,” according to Director of Safety and Security John Blaisdell, the campus is still bustling with activity.  

Over break, Blaisdell communicated to the Marist community that an individual not affiliated with the Marist community was taken into custody by the Poughkeepsie Police Department in relation to the break-in last semester. While there were no signs of forced entry over the winter break, Blaisdell encourages students to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity because “crime does not go away.” Therefore, it is important that students continue to keep their windows, doors and vehicles secure.

With some students being sent abroad and new students being granted parking permits, there has been a net gain of zero for student parking this spring. However, there have been several changes to parking on campus, including the opening of the Riverview lot and part of the Fontaine lot to students. However, students are already ignoring the indications that spots in Fontaine are for staff and are receiving citations as a result. Blaisdell has warned that if students continue to ignore these designations, the lot may not be able to remain open to students. Additionally, QR codes can be found on the signs at the entrances of each lot. When scanned, these QR codes indicate the number of spots available in the lot.  

Security has also received complaints from students about their vehicles not being dug out after snow. Standard practice has always been that Marist plows the lot, and students dig out their individual cars.

As of January 31, the Parking Ticket Appeal process overseen by the Student Government Association has been suspended and is pending review due to reports of alleged irregularities with appeals received by the Office of Safety and Security and the Office of Student Affairs. New and in-process appeals are being forwarded to Director of Student Conduct, Matthew McMahon.

So far, there have been two drug violations relating to marijuana — one in Lower West on January 11 and the other in Leo Hall on January 17.

On January 25, a student was arrested for DWI following an accident with a Sodexo vehicle in the Hoop Lot located behind the Gartland Commons. A separate hit and run was reported on January 28 in the same lot.

Three instances of criminal mischief were reported: on January 29, there was a broken light fixture in McCormick and a fire extinguisher damaged in Champagnat, and on January 30, there was another broken light fixture in Ward Hall. There was also one fraudulent identification found in McCann on February 1.

At roughly 9:15 pm on January 27, a fire broke out in a third-floor bedroom in the mid-Fulton area. Students evacuated, and thankfully, no one was harmed. The fire was contained to a single bedroom from which it is believed to have originated; however, that bedroom was fully engulfed in flames. The incident resulted in a multi-agency effort from local responders. The sprinkler system functioned properly, but the fire department needed to break windows to put a hose in the house. 

The responders also forced entry into all of the bedrooms to ensure that there was no one inside of the townhouse. The water from both the sprinklers and the hose created significant water damage throughout the rest of the house, and all of the students were placed into new rooms by Marist Housing. Fire investigators are still investigating the cause of the incident.

The start of the new semester is an appropriate time to remind students of the Good Samaritan and Medical Amnesty Policies; it is vital to call for help when needed for yourself and others, especially in situations regarding alcohol misuse. Additionally, students are encouraged to save the security number to their phone to report suspicious activity or call for help in cases of emergency: (845) 471-1822. Let’s have a safe semester.