WASHINGTON COMPUTER STOLEN http://www.su-spectator.com/news/high-tech-theft-in-fine-arts-points-to-vulnerability-in-campus-security-1.1971142

High tech theft in Fine Arts points to vulnerability in campus security

By Dallas Goschie

Published: Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Updated: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 19:02

The students of Seattle University involved in music and audio engineering were virtually silenced in January after an Apple laptop computer (which cost upward of $1,000) was stolen from a recording studio in the Fine Arts building.

The computer was connected to all of the audio recording equipment located in the room, and is an essential factor in the recording process.

"It [the computer] is one of the main parts of recording, it had all the software that students needed," said Alex Takasugi, a junior music major who occasionally uses the studio to record herself playing her viola.

"The only other way we would have to record is the old school way, with a tape deck," she said.

Fr. Josef Venker S.J., chair of the Fine Arts department, declined to discuss the theft, citing an ongoing police investigation.

Michael Sletten, director of Public Safety, was also hesitant to divulge information that could compromise the investigation of the theft.

He did note that they were following up on the incident, and that the theft occurred during a "low-use" period, in which, aside from students and faculty involved in the program, nobody had a legitimate purpose to be in the recording room.

"Unfortunately, an entity did do work in the room and didn't follow procedure when they left, producing more availability to the device," said Sletten.

However, the theft of the computer points to other instances of vulnerability within the university's security system, especially when it comes to the protection of relatively small pieces of expensive technology.

Public Safety is confident in the overall security of Seattle U technology.

"We have very, very low theft of any kind of university technology," Sletten said. "And if something is taken it is often because something in the security prescription was left out."

While Sletten felt uncomfortable going into greater detail while describing the overall security set-up of buildings on campus, he noted that Public Safety has a strict code that provides "layers of protection" around Seattle U property.

As the technology advances, Sletten explains, more and more of the layers are factored in (i.e. external card swipers, cypher locks, traditional keyway locks, etc. are activated).

He notes that several buildings, like the Engineering building, feature large windows in lab areas to allow for civilian surveillance and act as a further deterrent for would-be thieves.

Some question why Public Safety does not post officers in buildings where high volumes of valuable equipment are located, but Sletten believes this move would prove to be unnecessarily costly.

"Tools and technology work better than the approach of staffing," Sletten said. "The costs incurred would be much greater than the value of what we would be protecting."

Takasugi and Sletten agree that if proper security protocol had been followed, the theft of the Apple computer and other thefts would probably be preventable.

Sletten believes that if proper security protocol is observed, there is almost a zero percent chance that an item would be taken, explaining that security could only be breached through the use of force or a "smash-and-grab," setting off the building's alarm system.

"If someone didn't properly shut the door, anyone could have just waltzed in and taken it, people just need to be more responsible," Takasugi said.

Public Safety and Sletten remind everyone to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to protecting Seattle U's property.

He requests that if students or faculty see a situation that appears "odd or suspicious" or if a piece of technology appears to have been left vulnerable, to contact Public Safety.

"Those 2,000-some extra eyes of people could really help prevent future incidents," Sletten said.

Dallas may be reached at dgoschie@su-spectator.com