By JOEL ROCHA ’29
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 25 Sept 2026
Safety and Security (S&S) at Houghton University (HU) has recently undergone several major changes under its new director, Brian O’Gorman, prompting a significant amount of criticism from the student body. S&S has been working with the Student Council to explain its decisions and improve its day-to-day operations in order to make HU a better place.
Jonathan Ford, HU’s student body president, explained that the Student Council has met with S&S several times and plans to include them in their next meeting. In order to better understand all of S&S’s responsibilities, Edmund LaDine, HU’s student resource representative, met with the department and asked about the changes they were making. These changes include new uniforms, changes to the process for unlocking buildings and new vehicles.
One of the most criticized changes is the acquisition of new vehicles for S&S around the same time as an approximately 17% increase in tuition, with several students feeling that this is unnecessary and coming at their expense. Bill Burrichter, Vice President of Student Life, stated in an interview that the changes being made are intended to make HU a safer place. Regarding the new vehicles, he explained that the leases on the previous vehicles had expired and that the department was able to negotiate a deal for newer vehicles at little additional cost. He explained that this would be a direct benefit to the student body, as they are Toyota Tacomas with four-wheel drive and have the ability to perform well during extreme weather events, such as the flooding at the end of March 2026 and the recent storm in early September.
O’Gorman has also received criticism regarding the apparent use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in his presentation during the Around the Table meeting on Sept. 16. Students expressed concern that this use of AI reflects unpreparedness and unprofessionalism within the department when addressing the student body.
When interviewed about O’Gorman’s presentation, Burrichter explained that O’Gorman was dissatisfied with his performance and acknowledged that the presentation was poorly handled. Burrichter stated that the administration is working with S&S to better handle the public-facing aspects of their job. However, he also stated, “We hired Brian O’Gorman to protect Houghton, not to present to Houghton.” Burrichter affirmed that HU needs to feel safe to the average student and that campus safety should not be something that is constantly on the average student’s mind.
As S&S continues to undergo these changes, communication between the department and the student body will remain important. While some students have expressed concerns about the department’s recent decisions and presentation to the student body, S&S and the administration maintain that these changes are intended to improve HU’s campus. Students will have opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback via student council’s correspondence with the department. Ultimately, the goal shared by both the student body and S&S is for HU to be a place where students can feel safe and secure. ★
