As Exeter Summer reaches the middle of the program, a third robbery was reported, this time by a student in Webster Hall, according to Paul Gravel, the Director of Campus Safety and Risk Management. 

On July 16, between $250 and $275 was stolen from the desk drawer of a student. The dorm was unlocked when the theft occurred and there are currently no suspects. The victim of the theft was lucky to be left with the euros that he also had stored in the desk.  

Campus Safety remains concerned with the cases of theft on campus and urges students to be mindful of what they leave in their rooms and the risk they take when leaving them unlocked.  

Mr. Gravel also reported a rise in student lockouts in the past week, which has both good and bad connotations. “From a campus safety perspective, it does tie us up a lot going from door to door,” Mr. Gravel said. “However, to me, it’s indicating that students are actually locking their doors.”  

As for the four local boys suspected of shooting at students with a water pellet BB gun, they have since sent apology letters to the school and students. Mr. Gravel said that they were very apologetic and wrote that they were not specifically targeting Exeter Summer students.  

The parents of the suspects were all cooperative with the police and punishment has been handled by the families. One parent reported to the police that, “the students just had too much time on their hands.”  

The investigation is still open, and Mr. Gravel will meet with the Exeter Police for a follow-up meeting on July 20. Whether or not charges will be pressed is still up to the parents of the victims. Despite the outcome, Mr. Gravel said that receiving acknowledgment for their harmful mistake was appreciated.  

Last Thursday there was a campus wide lockdown during B format. Mr. Gravel thanked all the faculty and students who took the situation seriously and he reported that the drill was a success.  

“The students were very responsive,” Mr. Gravel said. Everyone who was outside quickly found their way into a classroom and practiced the ALICE protocol –ALERT, LOCKDOWN, INFORM, COUNTER, EVACUATE.  

There was a small glitch in the lockdown when the system shut down students’ access by way of key cards into the buildings. If there had been a threat inside of the building, then this feature would have been applied, but in this situation, it was not necessary. When monitors of the drill realized this shutdown had been activated, it was quickly reversed so students could enter the buildings.  

The library staff did an especially good job. As soon as the alarm blared “Lockdown,” they ushered students into the bathrooms until the chimes rang out indicating that it was all clear.  

Mr. Gravel says that he hopes the practice was unnecessary but is pleased with the results of the drill.