Campus Organizations React to Propose Budget Cuts

The budget crisis has taken its toll on Truman’s Department of Public Safety, causing campus organizations to make event management changes.  

            Due to possible University budget cuts, DPS looks to make staff adjustments to in order to reorganize operations. This change will affect organizations that typically have an officer at their events, such as the Student Activities Board, said DPS Director Tom Johnson.

With no staff cuts made, DPS are no longer staffs every campus event, as they are considered overtime for officers.

“We are now being more proactive in our staffing,” Johnson said. “Before we may have provided an officer for an event that was iffy, whereas now we will not. Our biggest problem is that we are a 24-hour a day operation, and we can’t have somebody on all the time. We are probably one of the few departments where overtime is just a part of our budget and we can’t always control how many hours that is going to be.”

In the past problems have occurred, mostly due to intoxicated people, where DPS was needed. “Although we will not be present at every event, we would never compromise safety,” Johnson said.

“We will still be covering the larger events, but if an organization needs an officer for a smaller event, they need to call us at least one month in advance so that we have sufficient time to make arrangements,” Johnson said. “We will also be checking in during our patrol rounds, when an officer is not present at an event.”

            Coping with a reduced staff this year, officers have been working increased hours. Fully staffed with 10 patrol officers, including one on medial leave, DPS has no intention of cutting staff. “We are just looking at ways to improve our task efficiency, ” Johnson said.

            “Every department on campus is looking at how they do business and making cuts where they can,” Johnson said. “We still have a service to provide and we need to make sure we do that in the most efficient way possible.”     

            Meaghan Larson, the Films and Comedians Chair for SAB, said that more volunteers at events are needed. In the past, SAB has needed DPS to address problems.

            “For security, especially at concerts and comedians which are our larger events, we will have to ask for almost double the amount of volunteers,” Larson said. “That is probably the biggest change we currently face.”

            “Another problem SAB faces is that athletic events take precedence over other campus events, because at least one officer is required to be present at a game,” Larson said. “So if there is an event on game-day where we need a [DPS] officer present, we will have to make adjustments.”

The Center for Student Involvement, responsible for campus programming and student organization development and services, was informed of the possible changes over winter break.

            In response to these changes, DPS has been giving out Emergency Response Guides that explain what to do in various emergencies. The CSI has then been handing them out to campus organizations so that they are informed on how to handle emergency situations.

“Taking extra precautions, making sure you know who to call, and that you have a risk management plan will be very crucial in organizations now; whereas before, DPS was more on-hand,” said CSI program advisor Rachelle Williams.

            Williams said that as long as organizations are prepared, she doesn’t foresee any difficulties with DPS’ staffing changes.

            “For the most part, I don’t think it will be that big of an effect as long as we forewarn DPS, and also because DPS will still be there at the larger events,” Williams said.