2008 Woodie Awards
Student residents criticize building management over safety, security
Boris Tsalyuk
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
Students living at The Towers at University Town Center criticized the housing complex's security measures after a man was shot and killed there Friday, claiming non-residents can enter the building too easily.
Police identified the man slain as Donald Smalls, 19, who was living at the complex, according to Prince George's County Police. Law enforcement sources said Smalls was not a student.
Within two hours of the shooting, housing administrators placed notices under apartment doors to notify them of what happened. On Saturday, Towers management and county police held a security meeting in the south tower's community game room.
Students at the meeting expressed concerns over access to the building by non-residents. According to students, Smalls was living in the building with his girlfriend though he was not technically a resident.
Residents are required to sign in their guests, who must provide identification at the security desk in the south tower. However, students noted that this policy is often inconsistent, because people can access the building via the parking garage, side door or the north tower entrance, where security guards aren't always present.
"UTC has not been living up to its standards and promises," said Veronika Williams, a student at Howard University. "How can you have a security guard on one side of the building but not the other?"
Detective Brian Selway, who is investigating the slaying, and Kim Moss, the Director of Community Operations at The Towers, hosted the meeting, which was designed to give students an outlet to discuss the shooting and ask questions.
Catherine Timko, a spokeswoman for The Towers, said the building's management will update students on Monday with information about the incident. She added that the management has also arranged for students to receive grief counseling if they so choose.
Officials at Saturday's security forum stressed the importance of reporting suspicious or unsafe activity to police, because residents have the best idea about what is going on inside the building.
Police identified the man slain as Donald Smalls, 19, who was living at the complex, according to Prince George's County Police. Law enforcement sources said Smalls was not a student.
Within two hours of the shooting, housing administrators placed notices under apartment doors to notify them of what happened. On Saturday, Towers management and county police held a security meeting in the south tower's community game room.
Students at the meeting expressed concerns over access to the building by non-residents. According to students, Smalls was living in the building with his girlfriend though he was not technically a resident.
Residents are required to sign in their guests, who must provide identification at the security desk in the south tower. However, students noted that this policy is often inconsistent, because people can access the building via the parking garage, side door or the north tower entrance, where security guards aren't always present.
"UTC has not been living up to its standards and promises," said Veronika Williams, a student at Howard University. "How can you have a security guard on one side of the building but not the other?"
Detective Brian Selway, who is investigating the slaying, and Kim Moss, the Director of Community Operations at The Towers, hosted the meeting, which was designed to give students an outlet to discuss the shooting and ask questions.
Catherine Timko, a spokeswoman for The Towers, said the building's management will update students on Monday with information about the incident. She added that the management has also arranged for students to receive grief counseling if they so choose.
Officials at Saturday's security forum stressed the importance of reporting suspicious or unsafe activity to police, because residents have the best idea about what is going on inside the building.
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