Pestered by Security Guard while studying

BeneGal

Does anyone know where to make an official complaint about one of the security guards?

Here's what happened. I spent most of my day studying for my first exam (which is tomorrow) in Lab 4 in Callan Building, and was intending to stay there until 10pm, which is when security are supposed to lock up. Students are supposed to have the facility to use the labs until 10pm (or am I wrong in thinking this? Our swipe cards work from 6-10pm).

At 9.30pm I was taking a break from studying, watching a video online. I saw a security guard come in, heading towards me so I asked him if he was locking up (which I thought would be unusual since he shouldn't have been doing it yet). He asked if I was studying, to which I replied that I was, but was taking a break. He then proceeded to tell me that I wasn't studying when he came in, and asked whether I was going to Arts Block or the Library after. I told him I was going to study until 10 and head home after, then asked if the lab was open until 10 as normal. He responded with "The lab is open as long as people are still studying". When I once again stated that I was in fact studying, gesturing to my notes spread across the desk, he continued to argue with me, repeatedly saying that I wasn't studying when he came in. He then loitered around for a minute before similarly badgering the only other two students in the lab.

When he came back (at this point I had resumed studying) he asked if I was leaving and I said that I was studying, to which he responded "No you're not, I see the screen there". I repeated that I had been taking a break and I was studying now. He once again suggested I leave and go to the Arts Block - I was in the middle of doing a long sample paper question which I'd rather have just been given time to finish. I pointed out that there were others in the lab and he said they were leaving too, having obviously been sufficiently harassed. I asked did I have to leave and he said yes so that he could lock up and not have to come back later to do it. So I packed my stuff and left, totally frustrated.

Since when is it the job of a security guard to determine whether or not a student is studying? As far as I know those labs are supposed to be available to students until 10pm regardless of what they're doing, not whenever a security guard decides he's too lazy to make the return trip to Arts Block again. I just think it's pretty shocking behavior, especially on the eve of exams.

Any suggestions as to how I could go about making a formal complaint?

lordgoat

Great to see some things never change. Complain but nothing will happen. Sorry for the pessissism but i've seen one security guard argue with a lecturer outside an exam hall by repeatedly telling him he can't park there. The lecturer was dropping a wheelchair bound student to a final exam, did the security guard care - nope, well not until he found out it was a senior lecturer and he was demanding to know his name and his bosses name.

One of the worst things i've seen in NUIM was that. Was enjoyable seeing the lecturer take him down a peg or two, but at the end of the day nothing happened him. In my eyes he should have been fired.

_Whimsical_

You should complain about him. He's paid to do a job and it doesn't include harassing students to leave the premises so he can take it a bit easier.

See if you get other similar experiences in this thread. If you do then email a link to it to the relevant authority in the college and explain that you don't think his behaviour is good enough.

If it happens again politely ask him for his name. That generally gives people the idea that you might be considering a complaining about him and puts them on the back foot. He might rethink his tactics.

TouchingVirus

Your complaint should go to the head of the security who is John Hayes. I believe he has an office in the Arts Block but his phone number is 01-7083589.

If you prefer email then I'm sure you could guess his email address, but to be sure you might want to go through the Students' Union - it is what they're there for after all

AdmaialNimitz

TouchingVirus wrote: »

you might want to go through the Students' Union - it is what they're there for after all

That is EXACTLY what the SU is there for. The VP in charge of Education and Welfare is Liz Murray, and I think this is the sort of complaint that is right up her alley!

Seriously go over to her/them and talk to them. Do it sooner rather than later cos if you wait too long then nothing will be done!

p.s. NOONE tell Rob about this...he'll be ridiculously excited over having such ammo in his little feud...

banquo

Quiet you

But seriously. You want president@nuimsu.com if you want to go through the students' union

pakb1ue

Ah memories....

Never got hassle of them in 4th year as we had a key to lock up ourself once finished. I stayed there till 12 on a few nights while writing my thesis.

Could never actually study though in the lab, always found more interesting things to do on the interwebs. Then I moved to the Reading Room and found myself with the same problem but this time I checking out the opposite sex.

TouchingVirus

pakb1ue wrote: »

Ah memories....

Never got hassle of them in 4th year as we had a key to lock up ourself once finished. I stayed there till 12 on a few nights while writing my thesis.

Could never actually study though in the lab, always found more interesting things to do on the interwebs. Then I moved to the Reading Room and found myself with the same problem but this time I checking out the opposite sex.

That isn't the reason why you didn't get hassle. You still had to call security when you left the lab and they still had to come over if you were the last one in the building to set the alarm. And 12am is nothing, try calling them at 3am - ahhh Thesis work, I do not miss you

BeneGal

Cheers for the advice everyone, email sent to SU president. :pac: