Date: April 28, 2020
To: Pat Morena, Executive Director of Public Safety at City College of
New York
From: Antony Rodriguez, Benjamin Diehl, Justin Salmeron, Sumaiya
Ahmed, Peggie Liang, Clinton Ezenwosu, Jasmanpreet Singh
Subject: Proposal for the Installation of Security Turnstiles at the Entrances of the North Academic Center
Purpose
The purpose of our proposal is to request authorization to install turnstiles in the North Academic Center (NAC) at City College of New York (CCNY).
Summary
Many students feel unsafe when attending classes at CCNY because the current security measures are ineffective at preventing potentially dangerous strangers from entering the buildings on the campus. The students in our group have all the experiences and skills necessary to write this proposal, and after many observations and conversations with peers, have determined that the current building entrance security is not insufficient. Our group has concluded that, in order to create a safer learning community, turnstiles are needed at the entrances of each building. We believe that this will be best done by first installing turnstiles at the three entrances to the NAC, as it is the largest and most populated building on campus, and this NAC installation will be the focus of our proposal. We estimate that the installation of the turnstiles will take roughly one month total, running from mid-June to mid-July 2021, and will cost approximately seven thousand three hundred fifty dollars upfront, as well as continuing costs for maintenance. At a later date, these turnstiles will be rolled out to the rest of the buildings on campus.
Introduction
During the spring semester of 2020, our group of students from The City College of New York observed underlying security issues at the entrances of the campus’ buildings. The NAC, being the busiest building on the campus, suffers from these issues the most. To get into the building, CCNY students and faculty must show their college identification cards (College ID) to security guards, while students who have lost or forgotten their college ID must show their class schedule on their phone to get in. Students who have lost their IDs and do not have access to the internet, can gain access to the buildings by accompanying a CCNY student or faculty who accepts the responsibility of monitoring them. Unfortunately, this is where security issues arise, as students who do not have IDs or internet access can easily sneak in through exits. Finally, people who are neither faculty nor students can show a State ID or driver’s license and be signed in at the security desk.
While checking an ID takes little time, it does require care. Students often enter buildings in waves due to the way classes are scheduled, and while guards can handle the standard trickle of students, when there is a high volume of students entering a building at once it often means that the guards are unable to properly verify all the IDs. In addition, when a guard is signing in a guest or otherwise preoccupied, they cannot check IDs at all. As a result of these issues, the current system is ineffective in properly keeping out people who do not belong. The NAC has three active entrances throughout the day: two on Amsterdam Avenue and one on Convent Avenue. In the evening, one of the Amsterdam Avenue entrances closes. Overall the security vulnerabilities of the current system jeopardizes the safety of the students.
Based on observation and conversations with our peers, our group of students from a writing for engineering class realized that students in the school felt that the safety measures to identify individuals entering buildings at CCNY were not enough to safeguard students, faculty, and staff against threats. Out of all the available options, our group has decided that turnstiles are needed, as they provide the security and efficiency needed without sacrificing the safety or wasting the time of students. A turnstile is a gate which allows one person at a time to pass. We recommend installing turnstiles at each entrance to the NAC and requiring students and faculty to swipe or tap their IDs, similar to other universities, such as Hofstra (Security World Market, 2015). In this way, we can still have the college ID policy that is stated on CCNY’s Public Safety website.
After much research, we have tentatively chosen to use swing gate turnstiles from the company Hayward Turnstiles, a company that specifically produces turnstiles for campus safety (Hayward Turnstiles, 2020). Swing gate turnstiles were chosen as they come in full height and more easily allow for wheelchair access.
To accompany the turnstiles themselves, there will also be protocol training for the security guards. This training will mainly consist of monitoring exits to prevent anyone from entering through exits, as well as monitoring turnstiles for tailgating (two or more people going through a turnstile with one entry), jumping, or crawling under the turnstiles, and what to do if one of these actions has occurred. They will also be trained on what to do when people do not have an ID. Currently, we do not see it necessary to add turnstiles to other buildings due to them having less traffic relative to the NAC. In the sections that follow, the details of the proposed tasks, the schedule, and the current budget are included. The students of this group have the experiences and skills necessary to write this proposal.
Proposed Tasks
With Pat Morena’s support, we will be able to perform the following tasks to install turnstiles in the NAC.
Task 1. Installing the turnstiles.
To purchase the turnstiles, we will need to contact Hayward Turnstiles via phone or email to set a time and place to deliver the turnstiles. After receiving the four full height, swing gate turnstiles from Hayward Turnstiles, they will be installed over the summer of 2021. Summer break has been chosen as the best time to install the turnstiles, as not as many students will be on campus and the weather would be optimal. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have determined it is safer to plan for construction to begin in the summer of 2021. Because the building will still be in use by faculty and students, the turnstiles will be installed in one of the three entrances at a time, ensuring two always remain open.
Since this will be the first time any type of installation will be done on the floors of the entrances, we will need technicians to prep the floors if needed. In order to prep the floors for the turnstiles, we will need to complete a process called coring, which is a process that cuts or drills through concrete. Coring is necessary to install the wires and turnstiles into the floor. Another process we need to complete is electric, which is needed to wire and power the turnstiles. This process connects the turnstiles to the software and electricity. After the prep work is completed, it is estimated that each turnstile will take about 1-2 hours to install (FAQs for our Turnstile Security Products, n.d.).
The turnstiles will also be connected to a computer with software that will be able to control the turnstiles. The software is necessary as extra security and in cases of emergencies. The software will allow the safety officers to see the ID of the person that was scanned, which provides extra security. In cases of emergencies, such as a fire, the turnstiles will automatically open as directed by the software, but safety officers will also be able to open all turnstiles for the students and staff to leave the building (Hayward Turnstiles, 2020).
Task 2. Testing the turnstiles and the software.
After the turnstiles and software are installed, we would have to do a test run to make sure everything works properly. If not tested, then we may delay students from getting to class on time. The testing, therefore, should be done during the summer, right after construction, to prevent this problem. Additionally, by testing the software and turnstiles, we will be able to observe the efficiency of the turnstiles as well as areas that require improvement. This data will be useful in the future when installing more turnstiles around campus.
Task 3. Protocol training for safety officers.
The burden on safety officers will be less once this system is carried out, but they will still have to be attentive to who comes into the building. A Hostos student was interviewed and said that at their school, once an ID is swiped, the ID’s photo automatically shows on the security screen. She also noted that at times officers did not pay close attention to the screen, something that security officers at CCNY must understand cannot be tolerated. Officers will also be trained in how to use a student or faculty member’s EMPLID or SSN if they forget their ID, as well as how to give guest passes and handle individuals who attempt to break protocol.
Task 4. Maintenance.
In order to ensure the turnstiles work optimally, there must be an inspection every six months. The electrician will check the software, “minor parts,” and “the pedestal side panels [must be inspected] for the accumulation of dust and debris” (BluInfo, 2019). The maintenance will be included as a service from Hayward Turnstiles.
Budget
| Workers | Hours | Hourly rates ($) | Cost ($) |
| Laborers. (2) | 6 | 50 | 300 * 2 workers = 600 |
| Engineers. (2) | 4 | 80 | 320 * 2 workers = 640 |
| Electrician for Maintenance. | 4 | 40 | 160 |
| Training of protocol officers. | 50 | 35 | 1750 |
| Items | Price ($) | Quantity | Cost ($) |
| Swing gate turnstile.With 1 year warranty and transportation.According to Hayward turnstiles. | 1400 | 3 | 4200 |
| Total costs: $7,350 |
Experience
Most, if not all of the group members, have been in a CUNY college with turnstiles or have heard about the turnstiles.
- Justin Salmeron, a freshman at City College of New York, took “college now” classes in Hostos Community College while he was in high school. In 2018 was when he first saw this type of security system. He would swipe his id and be able to access the building as long as he was enrolled in classes during that semester. He then attended another semester at Hostos and was not allowed to access the building because he was supposed to renew his term access.
- Sumaiya Ahmed, a freshman at the City College of New York, majoring in Computer Science. As a student of City College, she has experienced security guards letting her in without looking at her id. She has also been to both Hunter College and Baruch College many times so she has experience with their building entry. In her first semester at City College, she took an engineering 101 course where she learned about structure building and the costs that go into them. She had to create a report, similar to the proposal, based on her construction ideas. Additionally, she had to find a way to make her structure the most efficient similar to how they are trying to make the turnstiles the most efficient.
- Antony Rodriguez, a freshman at the City College of New York, had the opportunity to take college classes while he was still in high school. He experienced turnstiles in Hostos Community College, he had to swipe his id in order to have access inside the building. However, if he lost his id for some reason, he would have to show proof to the guards by showing his class schedule of the course he attends.
- Benjamin Diehl, a sophomore student at CCNY, majors in Civil Engineering. He has often been able to enter campus buildings without clearly showing his ID. In addition, during his time in college he has had extensive experience in collaborating with other students on both lab reports and proposals.
- Peggie Liang, a freshman at the City College of New York, majors in Computer Science and attends classes in the CCNY campus buildings, including the NAC. She has experienced the lack of security and the inefficiency of the use of IDs in the CCNY campus buildings. She has also experienced the benefits of swiping IDs throughout her high school career. She has participated in a theater production as a backstage member. As a member, she helped with building props and moving props during the performances. She also has experience with writing proposals for projects and research essays.
- Clinton Ezenwosu, freshman at the City College of New York, majors in Computer Science. He has had experience of Subway stations, Airports and Colleges such as Monroe College, Fordham University and Mercy College with turnstiles installed. And sees how easier and more secure it is for students and people to access buildings in these various locations. He also had issues accessing the CCNY building due to lack of proper security measures.
- Jasmanpreet Singh, a freshman at The City College of New York, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Experienced turnstiles during public transportation and has some highschool experience. Has been in the North Academic Center, Marshak, Shepard Hall, Compton & Goethals, and Aarond Davis.
References
BluB0X Security. (2019, March 22). What is included in Turnstile Preventative Maintenance.
Retrieved from
https://knowledge.blub0x.com/Support/Support_Articles/What_is_included_in_Turnstile
_Preventative_Maintenance
FAQs for our Turnstile Security Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Hayward Turnstiles. (2020, April 16). Security Turnstiles Schools, Universities, Colleges,
Dorms. Entry Control. Retrieved from https://www.haywardturnstiles.com/industries/turnstiles-school-university-dorm-campus-access-control-systems/
Hayward Turnstiles. (2020, April 16). Frequently Asked Turnstiles Questions – Hayward
Turnstiles in CT. Retrieved from
NY Hofstra university controls tailgaters. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.securityworldmarket.com/na/News/Business-News/ny-hofstra-university-controls-tailgaters
Turnstile Security System Swing Gates: Swing Doors: Prices. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.haywardturnstiles.com/category/turnstile-security-system-swing-gates/
