Samantha Latos

News Editor

slatos@plymouth.edu

Two suspicious people were spotted on Plymouth State University’s campus within this past week. Anyone signed up to receive emergency texts and emails will remember getting two separate alerts. One suspicious person was seen last Thursday, near the student apartments. The other was seen on Monday, inside Boyd Hall.

Steven Temperino, Police Chief and Director of Public Safety, believes that awareness is a safety issue. “The reason we alert the community is to inform others of these potential safety concerns”, he said, “This way decisions can be made about where people choose to go on campus.” Any students who have not signed up for these emergency texts and emails are encouraged to do so.

Mr. Temperino defines suspicious as, “Their action and behaviors were such that people were concerned to the point of calling the police.”

The first suspicious person was alarming. Mr. Temperino said, “In the case of the person near the student apartments, the person may have been homeless. He tried to walk into someone’s apartment and was trying to charge his cell phone.” That person felt scared enough to alert the police. Even if the suspicious person did not have harmful intentions, it is still a matter of safety and privacy.

The second suspicious person was more mysterious than anything else. “In Boyd Hall, the person was found in an office space where he had no reason to be”, Mr. Temperino said, “When asked why he was there he ga ve random answers and said he was a Chemistry student, even though nobody from the Chemistry Department knew him. There are few chemistry students, and the Boyd Hall staff recognize all the chemistry students, and they knew he was not one of them.” This case disturbed the people of Boyd because a stranger claimed to be a PSU student. Since they knew that the suspicious person was lying, they felt inclined to call the police. It’s disturbing because this person’s intentions are still unknown. Spotting suspicious people on campus is a rare occurrence, and so, PSU students should not be worried about it. Mr. Temperino said, “It usually happens once or twice a year.” Thankfully, we have an active community that reports suspicious people quickly. Reporting suspicious people is important for the safety ofveveryone on campus.

If any students feel unsafe on campus, PSU has resources readily available. “We would just like to remind the community to take advantage of our SAFEWALK program, if they do not feel comfortable walking alone on campus”, Mr. Temperino said, “And to be sure they are signed up to receive emergency text alerts and email.” Signing up to get these alerts sent right to your phone is crucial for your awareness and safety.

If PSU students see anyone who they consider to be suspicious, they should report them by calling the University Police at 535-2330, using the Tips line or Silent Witness.