Hertford students to be monitored by CCTV camera in JCR
A JCR motion could result in a surveillance camera being installed in the Hertford JCR due to damage last term. Thomas Lowe, JCR President, put forward the motion last Sunday stating that the camera would act as a deterrent to those individuals who damaged the JCR. Footage would be passed on to the Dean following serious misdemeanors. Hertford JCR was closed frequently last term as a result of excessive mess and damage to College property.
The subsequent cost in overtime to scouts and staff was then charged to the battles of all students. Those defending the motion argued this be avoided if individual offenders could be identified. Lowe said, “It can’t be called CCTV surveillance as there won’t be someone watching it all the time. It’s just so that if there are any incidents we can look back at the footage and see what happened. “It’s basically for the JCR as we want to save our students money.
It isn’t an Exec versus JCR thing at all. I think most, if not all, students think it’s a good idea.” Students, though, remain skeptical. Jon Colclough, a first year History student at Hertford, said, “This just shows how big brother and authoritarian our JCR is. They’re pandering to the college authorities rather than representing us. It’s completely unnecessary and such an overreaction.” Dave Peniket, a 3rd Year Historian, said, “It’s a terrible idea.
None of the JCR Exec ever use the JCR, so it’s fine for them. The rest of us don’t want to be filmed when we’re trying to relax and have fun.
26th Apr 2007