The Quinnipiac Chronicle Issue 23, Volume 84

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The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929.

QUCHRONICLE.COM

APRIL 1, 2015

VOLUME 85, ISSUE 23

Moving forward

Chief of Public Safety David Barger plans to retire in June By SARAH DOIRON Co News Editor

Walk into Chief of Public Safety David Barger’s office and you’ll see his passion for law enforcement. Forty years worth of policing awards, medals, helmets and badges cover his office and desk, a desk he’s been sitting at for five years. Barger explained that his passion for law enforcement began when he was young. “I come from a long line of blue. Within my family especially, it was not strange that I wanted to go into law enforcement,” he said. After Barger graduated from the State University of New York in New Paltz, he immediately entered the Meriden’s policing academy and was a member of the 87th training troop of the Connecticut State Police. Barger always wanted to be in law enforcement due to the unpredictable nature of the job. “I wanted to walk into my office every day and find something new,” he said. “I found law enforcement very appealing because of that.” But now after 15 years at Quinnipiac, he has decided to retire on June 30. “I told my wife I wanted to spend 40 years in law enforcement,” he said. “I promised her I would spend the next 40 years with her after I completed those years of service.” As of right now, Barger is unsure who the next chief will be, but he knows that the department will be in good hands. “The way I look at our department now, and the way we have been able to move forward over the past 15 years since I have

been here, I feel as though I am leaving the department in a very good place so that [the department] can continue to move forward,” he said. Barger decided to enter campus policing because he liked the idea of the challenges he would face on the job. His role as a member of the SUNY New Paltz campus police helped solidify his decision to become assistant chief of security at Quinnipiac in 2000. “You don’t get any more community policing than university policing,” he said. “With my own personality and my own makeup, I decided I really wanted to go back to campus policing.” Barger mostly worked evening shifts and found this was the best time to learn about the dynamics of the university. “It taught me a lot about the culture of the university,” he said. “I really wanted to learn and I wanted to fit in and see how public safety fits in on this campus.” In 2010 Barger was promoted as the chief of Public Safety after the previous chief, John Twining, moved over to the emergency management department. Barger said taking the position was the right thing to do for the department at the time. His reasoning for his promotion is related to the quote he sends at the end of all of his emails from management expert Peter Drucker. “[Drucker] always said, ‘Rank does not confer privilege or power, it imposes responsibility,’” Barger explained. “I strongly believe in that. I was given a rank to take on a greater responsibility in helping the department move forward in a positive manner and make it the best possible Public Safety department we could make and we are still

MEGAN MAHER/CHRONICLE

Chief of Public Safety David Barger’s office is full of awards and momentos from his time in law enforcement. well on our way.” Barger said working as the chief of Public Safety is one of the most rewarding jobs he has ever had. “I can’t say it is fun because it doesn’t do it justice,” he said. “But it is really fulfilling to move along with it and try to develop the safest campus that you can for the students, your faculty and your visitors.” One of Barger’s greatest accomplishments during his time in law enforcement

was when he was a member of the Connecticut State Police and was in charge of the K9 Unit. “I was very fortunate to have this job,” he recalled. “I had helped in creating the first official dog training classes in the state of Connecticut and it was very rewarding.” Barger also trained dogs in Europe as well as in the state of Connecticut, but he See BARGER Page 3

Student assaulted in presumed Uber taxi

award-winning website since 2009

– DAVID BARGER CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY

This recent incident prompted an email from Chief of Public Safety David Barger sent to the entire student body. In the email, Barger stated that there had been more than

Do you still plan to use Uber after the recent New Haven incidents?

one recent occurrence. “There have been several recent incidents in which students have gotten into vehicles in the greater New Haven area, which they believed to be Uber cars when in fact, they were not,” Barger wrote in the email. Uber is a taxi service that launched in 2009, according to its website. The website boasts its cheap rates, reliable pickups and spreading global presence. But despite the campus-wide ban, students still use the taxi service, according to Barger. “Uber is still banned, although we know students still use it,” Barger said. “We chase all the Ubers away from entering campus because we have to.” Rogers also believes Uber shouldn’t be to blame. “Uber is revolutionary as far as taking over the whole taxi service I guess, but can

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

you blame Uber for that though?” he said. “Because it’s not their fault, it’s creeps using that to their advantage to violate and harass women.” Rogers suggests Uber designate their cars with stickers. Barger believes students are still using it because the service can be accessed and a driver can be assigned to them quickly through the Uber app. “Students are brought up utilizing this technology,” Barger said. “This makes it easier for them to access a taxi and it is a part of the reason why students use Uber.” Junior Chris Lynch thinks Uber could change their policies to be more safe. “Maybe Uber could up their policy and have stricter and more rigorous application, or maybe they change something to where See UBER Page 3

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“Students are brought up utilizing this technology. This makes it easier for them to access a taxi and it is a part of why students use Uber.

POLL

After a Quinnipiac female student entered what she trusted to be an Uber taxi last month in New Haven, two men attempted to sexually assault her, according to a crime report from the Hamden Police Department. The car picked her up near Yorkside Pizza next to Toad’s Place between 1-1:30 a.m on March 22. The driver stopped at what the student believed to be Papa John’s on Whalley Avenue in New Haven and picked up two other males, according to the crime report. Once they arrived at the student’s address, the driver questioned her about her relationship status. The two males in the back seat attempted to sexually assault her, according to the crime report. But the student fought back and managed to exit the vehicle, sustaining minor injuries. “That is completely awful. If you’re

going to go to Toad’s and you’re drunk and you’re coming back, please make sure you’re with a friend. It’s crazy that something like that could happen to a girl, that she could get tricked because of Uber,” sophomore Fanonx Rogers said.

CONNECT

By TARA O’NEILL and SARAH DOIRON

Interactive: 7 Opinion: 8 Arts & Life: 10 Sports: 13


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