An Examination of Security in Campus Recreation Centers

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Providing proper and adequate security is a critical element in comprehensive risk management for campus recreation facilities. However, little research has been done in this area to assess and analyze the status of security at campus recreation centers in the United States. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the types of security systems used in campus recreation centers, (b) determine the most common types of security incidents that occur in these centers, and (c) examine facility security procedures and personnel. Questionnaires were mailed to 100 randomly selected campus recreation directors across the United States. There were 58 usable surveys returned for a 58 percent response rate. Notable results included: (a) the majority of centers have written security plans but only about one-third update their plans on a regular basis, (b) 72 percent of responding centers provide employee training for security issues, and (c) less than half indicated that they use centers use pagers or cell phones. In addition, while closed circuit television (CCTV) was recognized as an excellent way to decrease criminal activity, only 30 percent of centers reported the use of CCTV to monitor their facilities. Approximately two-thirds of respondents indicated that ID cards were required to access the centers. Interestingly, less than half of the respondents indicated that they thought their facilities were designed with security in mind. Finally, with regard to criminal activity, illegal entry was recognized by 65 percent of respondents as a primary security issue.