This year, security cameras around the Upper School (US) recorded students skipping assemblies and car crashes in addition to providing enhanced safety measures. More than nine in 10 schools in the Northeast have security cameras as of 2019-20, according to Pew Research.
The US is a part of that 90%, using security cameras on campus since at least 2004. Since then, the US has upgraded the cameras as needed and added new ones as the school acquired properties like the Grove Street fields. These security cameras are designed to ensure the safety of students and faculty, the Security and Transportation Department explained in a written statement when asked for an interview about the cameras.
Sydney Xu ’28 shared her thoughts on the cameras.
“It’s important to have cameras at school to have an overall idea of what happens when there are no teachers,” she said.
Sydney hadn’t noticed any cameras before but understands their purpose.
“Even if they did install cameras, people’s behavior tends to stay the same,” she said. “If you are not doing anything wrong, then your behavior will be the same. That’s what I’ve been seeing. Nobody has been changing their behavior drastically. … I haven’t noticed any security cameras if they have been installed.”
Grace Stafford ’27 agreed with Sydney.
“From what I have seen, I don’t really think having cameras will change students’ behavior unless students face consequences for what gets seen on camera.”
Grace sees the benefits of the cameras on campus.
“Having these cameras around is good. Safety is important, and having these security cameras around personally makes me feel safer.”
The statement emailed to The Vanguard explained the cameras’ presence.
“The main purpose of security cameras installed on BB&N campuses is to enhance safety and security for students, staff and visitors. This includes deterring potential threats like crime, vandalism and unauthorized entry.”
The school recently switched to partner with Synergy 911 as its security consulting partner (See Vol 53, Issue 3: “Campus security switches from Blue-U to Synergy 911”). The Vanguard found 24 cameras outside the US, including at entrances to buildings, the Nicholas Athletic Center (NAC) and the courtyard.
According to the statement provided, front desk staff like US Receptionist Andre Jones monitor some of the cameras to ensure staff and student privacy. All video footage is stored with other school records.
“BB&N has a security camera access policy which guides the occasional times when video recordings may be accessed. Members of the security team and other authorized employees have access to the cameras in connection with a particular event or incident.”
The school turned to the security cameras in the fall when assessing vehicle accidents in front of the NAC.
“We were able to capture the accident footage and shared this information with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and asked that they add some traffic calming measures to assist with slowing the traffic down,” the statement read.
US Ceramics Teacher Christian Tonsgard said he was not informed that cameras were present on campus.
“I didn’t even know cameras had been installed,” he said. “Is that a recent thing? I don’t think anybody’s been aware. But I think it is more that everywhere we go, we are constantly under surveillance. So, it is nothing new … They definitely don’t make me feel uncomfortable. I don’t know if they make me feel safer. They are just there.”
