Almost a year ago, a laptop alleged to contain more than 3,100 photos, names and social security numbers of students, faculty and staff was stolen from Gavilan College.
The laptop and power cord were removed from a case in the Associated Student Body office, said Tim Holliday, former Gavilan Student Trustee and Senator to the ASB. Holliday discovered the missing computer and immediately reported its disappearance to the ASB advisor, Johanna Stewart, he said. Five months later, feeling that the situation had not been handled properly, Holliday reported the theft to campus security and the board of trustees.
A student, Kayed Asfour, was interviewed by staff and was determined to be the last person to see the laptop. Asfour indicated that he deleted all the social security numbers on the laptop. Despite Asfour's testimony that the numbers were no longer on the computer, Holliday pushed for the college to notify students that their identity could be at risk.
President Steven Kinsella said the college took the necessary precautions and has no reason to suspect that students, faculty and staff are at risk for identity theft. Additionally, he clarified that the ASB is a completely separate organization, independent from the college. However, if the President feels that the association made a significant oversight, he has the authority to investigate over its head. In this case, he did not find that necessary.
"We can't verify that there was this information Tim keeps saying was on the computer," Kinsella said. "The last student with the computer assured us many, many times that student data was not on the machine. It's now been a year and there's never been one student that has come forward saying their information has been compromised in any way."
Kinsella said he has had to intervene in an issue like this only once in his career. When a book containing information about students that owed library fines went missing from the library, he contacted students and offered them free credit reporting. In that case, Kinsella said he knew the nature of the book's contents. Now, however, the presence of the data on the laptop simply can't be verified, he said. Holliday was not the last person with the laptop, Kinsella pointed out.
In reference to the stolen laptop: "It's not an issue," Kinsella said.
Meanwhile, the front page of a recent Gavilan Press newspaper featured an article urging students to take precautions against burglarized vehicles. Security personnel continue to remind students to lock their car doors. With three burglaries of unlocked vehicles in February alone, Kinsella said that these types of crimes result from the school's growing student population. He has noticed increased burglaries in the parking lots which continue to be "problem areas." Gavilan security continues to patrol the lots, but with unlocked doors and open windows, students "make it too easy," Kinsella said.
Sara Suddes Sara Suddes covers Gilroy for South Valley Newspapers. You can email her or call (408) 847-7158.
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