In a post-9/11 world, Americans are generally willing to give up some personal privacy in exchange for security.
While the line between security and privacy has been blurred on a national level with the National Security Agency, Director of Public Safety Angie Nally believes that the use of cameras on DePauw's campus is appropriate, but she understands that it is a sensitive subject.
"When you talk about security cameras it is so fragile," Nally said.
There are approximately 60 cameras throughout campus. Some of the locations include parking lots, the third floor of East College and the basements of various academic buildings.
"Those are areas that have a history of either damage and vandalism or theft," senior Kaleb Gregory said. "It makes perfect sense."
The cameras on the third floor of East College, which were installed last year between August and October, are meant to prevent students from going up to the bell tower.
"It's dangerous, and there was a lot of interest generated around gaining access to that at one point in time," Nally said. "The cameras point directly at the doors. They're not looking into the hallways or into anyone's offices."
Nally noted that there are more cameras in buildings that have been built more recently.
"With new construction, we've installed cameras in newly constructed buildings," Nally said. "We're looking forward to expanding [security cameras] through the athletic complex."
First-year Natasha Hockaden believes that whether or not students should be worried about it depends on the location of the cameras.
"I kind of feel like it could be an invasion of privacy, depending on where they're at," Hockaden said.
According to Nally, the cameras elsewhere are to protect students who are studying late at night. For instance, there are cameras in the basement of the Green Center of the Performing Arts. Nally said that students do not always have cell service near the practice rooms and that the area can be isolated from where others may be.
Nally added that the cameras are not monitored at all times.
"We have the ability to monitor them, but we don't have the resources, staff or desire to monitor them all," Nally said.
However, Public Safety does review the footage when an incident is reported.
"If anything does happen on campus, the first question someone asks me is, 'Is there a camera that covers that area?'" Nally said. "There really is an expectation, in the world, of the ability to go back and recreate the incident."
Public Safety also uses cameras in their patrol cars and when they are interviewing potential suspects in criminal cases. They have a set of standards that they have to follow when deciding if it is ethical to use the video as well as determining how they store the video. Nally said they also have a system to review if there is any misuse of the video.
However, there have been previous questions to the ethics of the way Public Safety has used video in the past. In Feb. 2010, The DePauw reported that Public Safety had recorded bid night activities that occurred in the front yards of fraternities from the in-car cameras. This prompted a letter to the editor from Nally, who wrote, "I would like to offer an apology for the use of a video camera by Public Safety officers during some of the events of that evening."
After the event, Public Safety reviewed its policies for the use of in-car videos.
"The installation and choice of where these cameras are are under the purview of Public Safety," Nally said. "It's pretty complex, and it's been well thought out and approved from my vice president."
Nally said that the line between security and privacy at DePauw is drawn at "a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy." As a result, there are no cameras in residence halls or areas that look into offices or bathrooms.
"You don't have a right to not be recorded on our entire campus," Gregory said. "Granted that doesn't mean that you can stand at your window naked and expect no repercussions. There's a certain degree of courtesy and common sense."
Gregory mentioned that there are other places that people are recorded but never question it.
"People might complain about cameras being set up on DePauw's campus, but you can't go into a Wal-Mart without getting on camera," Gregory said. "That doesn't mean that we don't shop at Wal-Mart. It means that you don't do stupid stuff when you're there."