Theft in ASPSU office raises security concerns

The theft of ASPSU President Katie Markey’s work computer from the ASPSU office in Smith Memorial Student Union has raised questions about the office’s security, as student government computers have been known to carry sensitive information collected about voters in registration drives. 

An adviser noticed that the computer was missing when he came into the office on Sunday, Nov. 7, and it is believed that the computer was stolen sometime between Friday and then, when the office was locked for the night.

According to Markey, ASPSU had updated all its staff technology one day prior to the theft. The computer had been in the office one day when it was stolen and therefore no data or private information was on it. She had not even had an opportunity to turn it on.

ASPSU had been working on a huge voter registration campaign during the months before the theft and computers in the office contain voter registration data. The office was also used to hold a phone bank that utilized an automated dialing program.

Domanic Thomas, the faculty adviser for ASPSU, said the matter is being handled seriously. 

 “The measures we are taking to make the office more secure include limiting key access, having more specific opening and closing times, and taking additional steps to secure the office and surrounding area,” he said.

In addition, ASPSU has filed an incident report with Campus Public Safety Office and is also working with OIT to determine if and where the computer is being used, Thomas said. There are no cameras in ASPSU’s office or the hallway outside, but because the office was not broken into it is likely that a student with access to a key is the culprit.

Markey stated that 11 people have keys, mostly chair-people and members of the executive board.

“Senators do not have keys,” she said.

While the office is open to students during regular hours, Thomas and Markey said that the ASPSU office is still a safe place. Though there have been issues of non-ASPSU students using resources that they are not authorized to use, those issues were promptly addressed.

“We are putting in access codes for printing and copying to ensure that only ASPSU business is taking place with those resources,” Thomas said.

All members of the student government are aware of the protocol for the use of resources in the office, and the security of the office depends on their adherence to it.

The ASPSU office is intended to be a space where all students are welcome, but it is not a resource center for students, according to Thomas. Non-members are not allowed to use the printers or copiers in the office.

“Katie, myself and the rest of the officers are consistently trying to make sure that it is a place where the work of student government is done first and foremost,” Thomas said.

  Portland State students are allowed access to the ASPSU office if there is a key-holder present. There are couches on which students can relax, and according to Markey students are welcome to use senator computers as long as they are relinquished to senators when they need them. There is a small food pantry and a conference room free for student use.

“There is a balance of work and welcoming to students that must be maintained,” Thomas said.

OIT supplied Markey with a temporary replacement computer the day after the theft. Markey reported that she was “very disappointed that it was stolen,” but would like to tell students that ASPSU is a welcoming and safe place for everyone on campus.?