Campus Security

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     Beginning in 2012, University of Kentucky allotted $5 million for improving campus security.  The upgrades included the installment of nearly 2,000 security cameras, a centralized security system, blue light telephone system and a one-card access system (Huffington Post 2013).  University of Kentucky also enforces strict dorm policies, much to their residents’ dismay.  No student living in the dorm may have more than two guests at one time, no guest may be left unattended at any time, and the guest’s driver’s license must be handed over to the front desk upon arrival at the dorm.  While the protocols may seem excessive and overly harsh, they are just an effort by University of Kentucky to keep the dorms on campus a much safer, and secure environment.  

     Due to Southeastern Conference schools having football stadiums that rank among the largest in the world, it is crucial for security measures to be in place and strictly enforced for the safety and well being of spectators.  University of Kentucky’s football stadium, Kroger Field, is among the top 200 largest stadiums in the world, seating 61,000 people.  Of these 61,000 seats, only 5,000 are reserved for students (College Gridirons 2017).  This means that roughly 56,000 non-students are walking through University of Kentucky’s campus on any given game day.  This staggering number is most likely the direct cause of the increased security on game days, especially as of recent.  In addition to trying to keep out unwanted beverages from the stadium, the implementation of the clear bag policy was to combat the escalated safety risk present on game day.  The clear bag policy states that no bags should be allowed in the football stadium unless they are transparent or small enough to be a clutch purse (Hale 2017).  Jon Hale for the Courier-Journal states that the clear-bag policy “greatly reduces faulty bag searches.”  He then goes on to say that it also supports Homeland Securities “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, which raises awareness for the “importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement” (“If You See Something, Say Something, n.d., para. 1).  Implementation of policies like the clear bag policy may seem like more of a burden than a safety precaution, but security measures like this are not instituted for mere inconvenience, but rather the immediate safety of anyone present on game days.  As of spring 2017, the clear bag policy was instated at all Southeastern Conference schools for the 2017 football season in hopes of making games a safer, more enjoyable experience for the fans (Hale 2017).