By Jake Wieseneck ’14, Commentary Editor 

In 21^st century America, security has become a top priority in our daily lives. Airport screenings have become more invasive and expansive. Alarm systems are more commonplace in American homes. The number of passwords required to check email, shop online or even buy a song on iTunes have drastically increased. All of these security precautions have been caused by events, catalysts of change that opened our eyes to the possible dangers that exist and the pressing need to prevent them. September 11, 2001 was the catalyst for increased airport and domestic security. Computer system hackings and Internet predators have caused a crackdown in online safety. Similarly, the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre has become a catalyst for enhanced gun control and increased security in schools around the nation. Even in the tight knit Newark Academy community, it has become necessary to protect against the potential dangers surrounding our grounds. The Academy and every institution across America have heard the call to act, and the Academy’s Administration and Trustees have begun work on an evolving security plan. “Response to every emergency takes planning, practice and common sense” according to administrator, Mr. Goldfischer.

Preemptive planning sets in motion the first wave of defense against any emergency that may arise. In the aftermath of Newtown, Newark Academy has wisely planned security changes that will drastically expand the measures in place and rise to a new level of defense. Mr. Austin understood the catalyst of change that Newtown would become in the field of school security and immediately began work to find a plan of action to create a safer Newark Academy. After making initial announcements to the community in the days following the December tragedy, a letter was sent from the Head of School to the parents regarding the community’s security responses to Newtown. The letter showcased the administration’s commitment to expanding security by locking all doors in and out of the building other than the front foyer and other main exits, such as the doors to the upper parking lots. The locking of the remainder of the community’s doors is only one step towards stronger security measures, and according to Mr. Goldfischer “the next step is a card reader for 6 doors of the 34 in the building.” This system would provide cards to Newark Academy faculty members, while all other community members would be required to buzz into the building to gain entry. The receptionist would have the power to allow or deny entry to anyone wishing to enter the building without possession of a card.

Students have already expressed displeasure over the locking of the doors as a planned security measure to prevent any possible intruders from gaining entry to the building. The Junior class, in particular has been disappointed with the new rules.  One member of the Class of 2014 who spends the majority of his free time in the Junior corridor noted that “the locked doors make going outside a chore. Even entering and exiting the building I could just walk around to the front door but this becomes another hassle that disrupts my daily routine.” To many students, these changes seem to impact certain aspects of the Newark Academy culture. When discussing the effect that these new security measures may have on the community, Ms. Galvin noted, “These measures will cause an inconvenience and when people are inconvenienced, they try to put themselves first and may go around the rules to do so. We need to minimize this instinct in the community as the priority is security of everyone in the building.” The commitment to the security of the school stems not just from the administration but from the student body as well and “if people try to circumvent the systems being put in place” according to Mr. Goldfischer, “they are undermining the security of the school.” Plans can only be successful if everyone buys into them. Security measures require this compromise and can only be effective if all members of the community, including students, faculty and parents, follow the new procedures regardless of circumstances.

Although the emotions that arise from a crisis such as Newtown are hard to authentically replicate, practice through drills can help the community feel more comfortable with the new procedures. According to Ms. Galvin, a few years ago the state instituted a 20 drill regiment for all New Jersey schools. Although 20 drills may seem like a lofty amount, many of the tasks that complete the requirement are done behind the scenes. Ms. Galvin notes that “fire and evacuation drills are straightforward, lockdowns too are community wide. However, some drills are limited to certain parts of the community, such as testing the building’s air systems and crisis planning situations that involve only members of the Administration.” A routine, to fall back on is incredibly valuable in times of crisis and drills have the goal of instilling this routine into the community. However, the idealistic view of drills isn’t the reality for all students at the Academy. Vihar Desu ’15 gave insight into the student’s perspective on these exercises, “drills, specifically fire drills aren’t as serious at NA as they should be. They’re predictable and as a result the student body doesn’t take them as seriously as they don’t catch us by surprise, which leads to talking and students breaking the rules. The unpredictability of a drill is the only practice that can match the randomness of a real emergency.” The Livingston Fire Department has also noticed the lack of attentiveness of Newark Academy students during fire drills, resulting in a poor “grade” for these exercises. In response, Ms. Galvin proposed that, “we must change the mindset of these drills as practice of real situations so students take them seriously.”  The more seriously drills are taken, the more prepared the whole community is for a crisis.

With any public policy, whether from the government or from a high school administration, there is an inevitable tradeoff between liberty and security. It is crucial to maintain the Academy’s identity, as the culture at the Academy has always been one with great emphasis on personal freedom. But there is a level of personal responsibility that necessarily accompanies liberty. In a recent letter to all parents, Mr. Austin wrote, “Students and faculty at Newark Academy enjoy the freedom of an open campus but must now accept some constraints on that freedom so that we can provide a more secure environment.” We must accept this balance of security and freedom: we are obligated both to comply with new rules aimed at increasing safety and to ensure that the open and safe culture of Newark Academy isn’t lost. In order to maintain this balance, its necessary to enhance security measures that specifically fit the daily needs of our location and not oversecure the school beyond our needs and compromise the values of our unique community. Mr. Goldfischer expressed that “our need is to address the issues that most confront us. We want to make this school a safe-haven but not a fortress.” The Administration is taking security measures that focus on our needs: to take measures that make our school a deterrent to criminals and those seeking to do harm. People with the intent to commit acts of sheer violence will find a way to circumvent any system in place, like Adam Lanza who shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School despite the card-swipe system and security guards in place. As an administration finds the measures that most directly meet the Academy’s needs, the student body must also feel the effects of the catalyst of change in school security and adopt a new mindset that safety is dependent on our mindset, attitude and actions.