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Posts tagged as “safety”

(Archive May 2019) Protect and Serve

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Campus Chief of Police Explains School Safety Protocols

By Eliana Mello | Observer Contributor

Chief of Campus Police and Public Safety Karen Kolimaga
Photo courtesy of MWCC

Karen Kolimaga, Chief of Police and Public Safety, said while it is difficult to keep the school safe due to the open campus environment, there are resources and precautions available for students, staff, and faculty.

The challenges Kolimaga and her staff face is the open campus. Since the campus is open to the public, it is difficult to regulate those entering and exiting the school. To combat this, at least one police officer is on campus 24/7 and security cameras are situated around the school.  read more

(Archive September 2018) Students Sound Off on Safety

By editorialteam on March 25, 2025

By Alexa Nogueira | Observer Contributor

Campus Police patrol the parking lot at MWCC.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

As the fight to prevent more school shootings continues, students, Chief Kolimaga, and Dean of Students Jason Zelesky each give their perspective on campus safety.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the least safe and 10 being the most safe), the average safety rating across the Gardner and Leominster campuses was an 8.14. Students were asked to offer their different concerns and comforts about campus safety. One of the most common concerns among the students was how open both the Gardner and Leominster campuses are. “It’s a safe school, but it’s concerning that they let anyone wander in and out,” said Katina Grimson. read more

(Archive March 2018) Details on Campus Security in Light of Parkland Shooting

By editorialteam on February 4, 2025

By Timothy Whalen Jr. | Observer Staff

Karen Kolimaga, Chief of Campus Security at MWCC
Photo Courtesy of MWCC

Due to the recent increase of school shootings across the nation, it is important that all students on campus should be aware of all safety protocols, as well as policies on weapons either on their person or in their vehicles.

First and foremost, campus police are armed at all times, and on any given weekday their will be 2-4 police officers on campus, at least 1 during night hours and at least 1 on weekends.  In the case of an event, upon confirmation of a dangerous situation, a blackboard message will go out to all student and faculty, similar to an emergency announcement via radio.   read more

(Archive March 2018) Students’ View of Campus Safety

By editorialteam on February 4, 2025

By Alexa Nogueira | Observer Contributor

Haley Academic Center Entrance
Photo by Jennifer Lamontagne

In the wake of the Parkland shooting, many students across the country are feeling concerned for the safety of their own schools. 

At the MWCC Gardner and Leominster campuses, students say that they do feel safe. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the least safe and 10 being the most safe), the average safety rating across both campuses was an 8. Many students, like Matthew Pierce, credited their feeling safe on campus to the presence of campus police. “I feel good knowing that there are police on campus,” Pierce said. read more