The University's private security firm, McGinn Security Services, has already chalked up three strikes. The company was hired to provide guards in all University dormitories in late 1987. The first strike against McGinn came just 6 months later with allegations that the guards were sleeping on the job and leaving their posts while on duty. Then in 1989, after a McGinn guard was arrested for disorderly conduct while on duty at Van Pelt College House, came the disclosure that McGinn was not conducting proper background checks before hiring new guards. The arrested guard reportedly had a "lengthy" police record. Strike Two. This week The Daily Pennsylvanian revealed that McGinn has been hiring teenagers to serve as security guards in University dormitories. Needless to say, this shows McGinn's lack of concern for the maturity and responsibility of their employees, two traits that are key to gaining the community's trust. Strike Three. Security in dormitories is not something to be taken lightly. Time and again McGinn has shown it is unable or unwilling to provide the quality of protection University students deserve. Perhaps the University could rest easier knowing its dormitory guards were at least competent if the service were administered through University Police. At the very least the University should call McGinn out before the firm swings and misses again.
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