Security cameras are placed in and around buildings and parking lots on the UW-Superior campus, but Director of Campus Safety Gary Gulbrandson says there is always room for more.

“There’s a general consensus that we’d like to see more cameras on campus. It’s talked about all the time, especially with the new buildings going up. Unfortunately, with the current budget situation, it’s hard to say when new cameras could go up,” says Gulbrandson.

While security cameras are mainly used to deter incidents from happening, Security Officer Mike Bodin says the cameras have been used more than a few times to solve crime.

Bodin recalls a rash of car break-ins about two years ago. Campus safety used surveillance footage of campus parking lots to help find the thief. The cameras do have a downside, however.

“In certain instances it’d be much nicer to have higher resolution cameras, but funding isn’t there so we have to go with what we have,” says Bodin.

Security cameras played an integral role in solving the disappearance of 24-year-old student Annie Le at the Yale campus on Sept. 8. When Le went missing police discovered by observing security camera footage that she had never actually left the research building her body was found in, which housed more than 75 security cameras.

“Do we have that level of security? No. It would be nice. Just because we have a relatively safe campus doesn’t mean something couldn’t happen here,” says Gulbrandson.

Student Rachel Kepler says she feels very safe on the UWS campus, even while walking at night.

“Honestly, I don’t really think about it. There’s enough lighting so I can see pretty well and I know that Campus Safety sits right out in front of the RSC on most nights,” says Kepler.

Kepler also says that security cameras help her feel safe.

“They’re not in any places that invade privacy. I think they’re a good idea,” says Kepler.

Gulbrandson says that the Le murder case goes to show that no matter what level of security a campus has, bad things can still happen.

“They’re not going to stop everything,” says Gulbrandson.

Security cameras on campus, such as the three in the cafeteria area, are marked with signs to inform students that they are being monitored for security purposes.

Campus safety did not wish to disclose specific camera locations or numbers.