security spotlight

Staff Spotlight

How Campus Security is taking extra measures to maintain a healthy environment and secure campus community

story and photos courtesy of Parker Brown As our campus community settles back into the routine of a college fall semester, there are staff on campus who never left, even in the unsettling early stages of the coronavirus in March. Many worked tirelessly on and off campus, making sure our college experience continued seamlessly, even if we weren’t here. For the University of Sioux Falls Security team, nothing changed at all last Spring. They worked as usual, making sure those who stayed on campus were always safe and secure, including protecting the first responders in North Hall. We want you to get to know these people who make sure you are safe at night, unlock doors when keycards don’t work, and often don’t get the thanks they deserve. Each month we will feature a member of the USF Security team in our Staff Spotlight. If you see them on campus, tell them thank you. -The Vessel Staffaff

The 2020-21 school year marks the eleventh year that Campus Security Officer, Ralph Lott, has been employed here at the University of Sioux Falls. Students say he always does his job with a smile on his face and even though you can’t see it with a mask on, he still does. This year looks a little bit different for the Campus Security Officers. “It’s been an ebb and flow of adjustments,” said Lott. “It goes from having no one on campus and you’re just checking property to now there’s everybody on campus and we have to make sure masks are up over noses and keeping everybody safe.”

Campus Security Officer Ralph Lott outside Mears Library

Most of the adjustments being made have to do with new policies meant to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on campus and to keep the campus open. Policies of masks and social distancing are mild inconveniences compared to the possibility of shutting down and going fully online as USF did in the Spring. According to Lott, “Everybody is on the same page. There’s a policy, and I’m sure everyone knows the policy, and I’m here to enforce the policy.” Adjusting to masks and social distancing is never easy. Humans are social creatures and going without much personal contact can be difficult, especially for Lott. Lott normally has many interactions with students passing by. “It’s a lot less fist bumps, handshakes, and hugs,” said Lott. “I’m a big hugger, so that’s what’s killing me the most.”

Lott continues to interact with students, but in a safe manner. With the cancellation of Fall sports, our athletes have been spending more time on campus, which has given Lott more opportunities to talk with the football players. As a former football player at the University of Nebraska, Lott really relates to the players here at USF. He tries to get to know them because he knows and has been through the struggle of football practices, training, and games at the collegiate level. “It has to be tough on those guys,” says Lott, “because you put in all that hard work and then to have something like this, which is really unknown, end it for you, it’s kind of heartbreaking. I feel for those guys.” Lott sees meeting relational needs as an important aspect of the job. Of course this comes on top of normal responsibilities and the odd circumstances brought on by Covid-19. Still, Lott and the campus security team go above and beyond to create a safe environment. “If I can just make one person’s day, my job is done.” 14