Video camera stolen from Mass Comm Department

A Canon XH-AI video camera was reported stolen from the Mass Communications Department's equipment room in Hall-Patterson in November. The exact date of the theft has not been determined.

The camera was purchased five years ago for about $5,000, and was primarily used for teaching students in the Department's electronic media sequence.

The camera accessories were not taken.

The incident was reported in the Campus Police Blotter Nov. 23.

According to the blotter, it may be difficult to recover the equipment because "leads were minimal due to uncertainty of serial numbers and multiple persons having access to the combination of the [equipment] room."

The equipment room has a pass code and is under surveillance at all times, said Kevin Fuller, broadcast and electronic media engineering technician.

Students must complete a form before they checkout a camera.

Leah Hightower said that at least four people had that access code to the equipment room and at least two of them are students.

Hightower is a senior mass communications major from Greensboro.

Fuller said that since the incident, he changed the code and gave the new code to Doug Osman, an assistant professor; Phillip Jeter, chair of Mass Comm; and one student.

"We [department] will have to review internal procedures," Jeter said.

 "If that's the case [too many people having the code resulting in the thefts], it wasn't a good idea."

In the meantime, a surveillance videotape of the equipment room is being reviewed by Fuller and Osman.

Osman said that no one has been accused.

"The videotape was being reviewed," Osman said.

"People were seen on the videotape carrying cameras. Research was being done on whether they [the cameras] were checked out."

Fuller said that he and Osman have asked several students about the camera.

"I haven't accused anyone. All I know is what I've done," Fuller said.

Jeter said that the Mass Communications Department will have to move some money around to replace it, but he is hoping to recover the camera.