(November 21, 2006) — If one were to visit the main office, it wouldn’t take long to realize the newest additions to the Clark family: three color monitors plastered on the entrance wall constantly switching through real-time surveillance of the school parking lot, hallways and staircase. It has always been a known fact that Clark has cameras placed at various points on campus, but it was not until the week of Nov. 1 that the monitors were installed. The cameras were always in the outside areas, but it wasn’t until fall of 2000 that they were placed in the hallways. The cameras have always been on but the monitors were kept in a small storage room in the back of the office. According to senior administrative secretary Barbara Melone, Principal Doug Dall felt that the cameras weren’t doing any good if the administration had to walk down to a room to see what was happening on campus. “We think this expands our ability to supervise the campus and make us more efficient, ultimately keeping the students safer,” Dall said. The monitors were placed in the main office because between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. there is always someone on duty, according to Melone. The main purpose is not to catch students in jeans, on their phones or misbehaving, but rather to insure the safety of Clark’s students, Melone said. “It’s a good thing to have them. We’ll have strict control and better surveillance, because I know a vending machine had been vandalized, so it will prevent people from getting away with stuff like that,” said sophomore Robert Benenyan. According to Melone, with the recent wave of school violence, the Glendale Unified School District decided that cameras and televisions should be placed in middle and high schools, all part of a “Safety Plan.” One of the plan’s components is the physical site of the school and what the administration of each school would do to prevent violence on the campus, said Betty Barnes, coordinator of student support relations. Clark took the initiative to place the monitors in the office with the money that the school had from its initial construction. While some students are glad that Clark has taken the precautions to keep their school safe, others feel negatively about this new addition. “I think it’s an invasion of privacy. They can see everything you do. It’s weird that they’re watching us,” sophomore Lilit Nalbandyan said. Most students, however, don’t really mind the new equipment. “I don’t feel safe picking my wedgie while walking down the hall anymore,” joked senior Sevada Abrahamyan. Melone said that the only reason the televisions were set up was for security and safety. “If it keeps my students safe, then I’m glad that we have them,” Melone said.