New security director begins his reign at VWC
Leo Therrien was formerly chief of police at Naval Hospital in Portsmouth. By EMILY MCLAUGHLIN

Leo Therrien, the new director of security, knew Virginia Wesleyan College and wanted to work at the school. "It’s great here," said Therrien. "I never met so many fine people in such a small area. There is an outstanding culture here that is infectious to any new employee." Therrien, who began his new position this semester, is originally from Berlin, New Hampshire. Three weeks after he graduated from high school, he joined the Navy, where he served for 30 years and retired as a masterchief petty officer. His career in the Navy took him around the country, including California, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Virginia. Therrien came to Norfolk in 1973 and has been here ever since. During his last 10 years in the Navy he was chief of police at Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. He worked with military students for three years while in the Navy. "From what I experienced in two weeks, the demands, problems and the environment is basically the same with the exception that military students have a much more strict regimen to follow, but it doesn’t necessarily make it easier," said Therrien.

Therrien says a big difference between young adults today and young adults in years past is that now people look after students when they go away to college. "Back then no one looked after students or young adults when they went away from home. It was tough," said Therrien. "In dealing with young adults we need to understand that it is their first time away from home and we need to nourish their needs." Therrien did his undergraduate work at St. Leo College in Florida where he earned a degree in safety personnel management. He attended Golden Gate University in San Francisco and earned a masters degree in human resource management and organizational development. Therrien is the administrator of the security department and reports to the Vice President of Student Affairs. He has routine meetings with all the security officers and is open to suggestions to improve security on campus.

"Their comments are more than welcome," said Therrien. "I need to look at and evaluate any situation, and then see what is best for my staff and school and go from there. It’s not right to walk in and change things." Although he has not been here long, Therrien has met some students and hopes to meet more. "Students should know that any time they need to talk my door is always open," said Therrien. "I’m here to serve their needs, and I can’t do that unless I know their needs."

Theft from the computer services offices occurred before the spring semester began. A laptop valued at $2,700 was taken from the office of Jack Democh, director of Computer Services and a digital camera, valued at $550, was taken from technician Alan Carpenter’s office. Both incidents happened between 4:40 p.m. on Monday, January 8 and 7:55 a.m. on January 9. "The strange thing is, my office and Alan’s are both behind two locked doors," said Democh. Director of Security Leo Therrien speculates that the burglars may have had keys to the offices, which were locked at the time of the incident.

"There were no marks of forcible entry," said Therrien. The equipment was property of Virginia Wesleyan College, part of a variety of computers and electronics available for use to the faculty and students of the college. The equipment is to be borrowed for short periods of time with permission from someone at Computer Services. "It’s more frustrating than anything else," said Democh. The incident was reported to the Virginia Beach Police, but Therrien is afraid that not much can be done. The scene of the crime was not processed, meaning no fingerprints were taken. "I realize that everyone’s on the honor system, and doesn’t believe this could happen, but it does," said Therrien. He has this advice for all faculty members: "If you think your stuff should be locked up, then it should be." As far as other precautions concerned, Democh locks his door each time he leaves the office now, and Carpenter’s office now has blinds covering the windows on the entrance to his office. There is much speculation, but the police don’t have any leads. "It’s basically stealing from all of us," said Democh, "because it’s resources for the students and resources for the faculty."

Just before students returned from winter break, the physical plant began removal of the Village III trailers. One half of the blue, portable buildings was removed first, and by Tuesday, January 30, all of the trailers were gone. "The decision to stop using the trailers was my decision," said Director of Residence Life, Keith Moore. "They were unfit to be used for social purposes." The trailers were placed in Village III during the summer of 1999. They were intended for clubs and organizations to register parties, hold meetings, and other social gatherings. Moore cited safety issues in his decision to discontinue use of the trailers. "They were in terrible shape," he said. "There were holes in the wall, the toilets weren’t working properly, and there were problems with the doors and windows." An off-campus group has agreed to take the trailers from the school. "I know they were waiting for the ground to get a little dryer before they continue to drive on it," Physical Plant Director David Hopper said of the timely process.

"People will still be able to register socials on their own in the residence halls, and the same rules still apply," said Moore. As for space for more social gatherings, there will be area in the new student center. While there will not be a room designated exclusively for parties, students will still be able to gather in certain areas. "There’s not really a space that lends itself to that," said Associate Dean of Students Lina Cottingham. "But the grille area is very large. Students could listen to a band, or hold poetry readings, things of that sort."

The Office of Residence Life recently released the time line for the Village Assistant and Resident Assistant Hiring Processes. The Applications for Village Assistants (VA’S) will be available on Jan. 29 while the Resident Assistant (RA’s) applications will be available on Feb. 14. Each spring residence life must hire new RA’s and VA’s to replace the current staff that will not return or will graduate. RA’s are usually upperclassmen who live in the resident halls with students and serve as authority figures. A VA is typically a senior who has previously been a RA and oversees an entire village before the professional staff in each village.

"Being an RA is a great experience and usually a lot of fun," said current RA Ryan O’Connor. "It allowed me to mature as a person and take on more responsibility." Those thinking of applying for a position on the staff should be aware that there is a large amount of responsibility. In most halls there are more than 20 students living together, and the RA is responsible for what goes on within his or her own hall. They must enforce policy as well as be a support for students. Along with helping maintain the hall they live on, a RA also has duty nights every week during which he or she will go on "rounds" with another RA from their village and walk through the halls to make sure nothing is wrong. They are the point of contact for the night in that village. A VA has even more responsibility than a RA. While they do not have to go on rounds, they are responsible for the entire village and the RA’s who live there. They also have duty nights in which they are the point of contact for the entire campus and they have hours to work in the residence life office.

"Being a VA, there is responsibility, which is good," said Shanon Banks, the Village I Assistant. "But I think that it easier than being an RA." The hiring process begins with the VA’s, and the applications are due on Feb. 7. After the applications have been reviewed they will interview with the Director and Assistant Director of Residence Life and the Director of Programming on Feb. 13 and 14. Offers will then be made Feb. 16. While VA positions usually come from within the staff, the RA positions are open to all students. Typically, juniors and seniors are awarded the positions; however; rising sophomores may apply. The hiring process for RA’s is much longer than that of the VA’s. This is so the staff can get to know each candidate better. The applications are not due until Feb. 28. During the two-week period there will be two information sessions to allow students interested in applying to ask questions and learn more about what goes into the position. The first session will be on Feb. 20 in the Grille and the second will be on Feb. 27 in Village II Commons. Candidates are not required to attend either session, but the staff feels it should help them decide whether or not they want to become a RA.

"The application process seems long and tedious," said Village I RA Victoria Scavo. "But really it is not that bad." The applications will be reviewed from March 5 to 9. Once the applications are reviewed, the final step is interviewing with staff and current RA’s and group interaction, which takes place on Mar. 25. A large part of being a RA is teamwork, so the staff places a premium on group interaction and compatibility with others. Offers will then be made on Mar. 26 and those who receive positions will be placed in the hall where they will live next fall. Being apart of the residence life is a job that requires self-discipline and maturity and the responsibility of being a leader and policy enforcer of your peers. It also allows the person to grow and mature before they graduate and begin work in the real world.