Picture this: you’ve just completed an intensive study session and all you want is to change into your freshly washed pajamas. However, as you open the dryer, you’re met with disappointment. Your entire load and even your laundry basket are nowhere to be found.
This scenario is likely familiar to many Trinity students, as laundry theft on campus has become a significant issue. I experienced this firsthand when my suitcase was taken from one of the laundry rooms this semester after leaving it there for only thirty minutes. I called TUPD, and despite their best efforts, they couldn’t find anything as there were no cameras located in the laundry room — only for my suitcase to turn up in the Residential Life office four days later.
This experience made me think about installing surveillance cameras in our laundry rooms. The objectives of this initiative would be twofold: deterrence and investigation. The presence of visible surveillance equipment would serve as a powerful deterrent to potential thieves, significantly reducing the likelihood of any criminal activity. In instances where thefts do occur, video evidence would provide invaluable assistance to campus law enforcement in identifying perpetrators and recovering stolen property.
Currently, TUPD is often limited to external building cameras when investigating such incidents. This, however, is an inadequate security measure, as the lack of cameras inside the actual laundry room can greatly hinder a theft investigation. By installing interior laundry room cameras, we would provide a clear view of any illicit activities, enhancing the effectiveness of investigations and increasing the probability of resolution.
It could be argued that students must be attentive and responsible for their own laundry loads, as many other institutions also recommend. Universities shouldn’t be expected to invest heavily in security camera systems for laundry rooms, especially when student vigilance can effectively address the issue. Staying attentive to one’s laundry not only protects personal belongings but also cultivates responsible habits for future shared living situations.
This, however, is unrealistic for a college student, and Trinity does not provide the necessary facilities for students to keep watch on their laundry. There are no seating areas in most laundry rooms existing on campus. And even if you sit anyway, the vents in these old decrepit rooms are hardly ever cleaned out and prolonged sittings in such moldy areas can’t be good for you.
To further bolster security, Trinity could implement an additional card swipe lock system for laundry rooms in unsecured dorms, as they have done at Calvert after a series of thefts. This measure would restrict access to authorized individuals only, mitigating the risk of opportunistic thefts by non-residents or those exploiting held-open doors. I believe this two-pronged approach of surveillance and access control would significantly improve the security of our laundry facilities.
The installation of security cameras in public spaces for safety reasons is already an accepted practice and is especially important since Trinity is an open campus. Extending this to laundry facilities represents a logical progression in our security infrastructure, offering substantial benefits.
To move this initiative forward, we, as students, should voice our concerns to campus administration by emailing Residential Life coordinators, talking to administration members at Trinity and sharing personal experiences with laundry theft to underscore the urgency of the issue.
The installation of cameras and additional security measures in laundry rooms is a necessary response to a persistent and disruptive problem. By implementing these proactive security measures, we can create a safer, more trustworthy campus environment. It is imperative that we address this issue promptly and decisively to ensure that our college experience at Trinity is not marred by concerns over personal property security. Together, we can make our laundry rooms secure spaces where we can wash, dry and retrieve our belongings without worry.
