First there were 20, and now there are only seven.

More quit every day.

Student Security performs a much-needed task in the residence halls of Iowa State University.

By being on hand and first on the scene, our boys in red can save lives when given the resources to do their job.

But lately the winds of change have been blowing harder than ever against Student Security.

First things first.

When it comes to protecting students, somebody needs to be on the job.

The threat to students doesn’t come from outside.

More likely than not, students need someone to protect them from themselves and each other.

When you get this many people living together, conflict is bound to occur at any time of the night.

From suspicious people wandering where they shouldn’t be to noise violations and medical emergencies, RAs, HDs and DPS can’t handle the load like a couple of well-trained security guards.

This semester, students in the various residence hall associations can no longer count on Student Security past 2:30 in the morning.

The Daily would like all students to know that we think this is a serious mistake.

Even under the best of circumstances, DPS cannot be expected to show up as fast as a Student Security officer.

Nor can DPS officers ever be as intimately acquainted with the halls as can students whose job it is to be stationed there ready to respond to a call within three minutes.

What happens know when a student gets alcohol poisoning or suffers a drug overdose?

Are we supposed to just say, “Well, he weren’t supposed to be drinking or taking drugs anyway so …”

Students may not realize this, but when it comes to simple matters of security, another student is much more likely to help resolve the situation with a minimum of fuss.

Do you think DPS will be knocking on the door of someone with a loud stereo at 3 a.m. in three minutes?

Not likely.

Recently, the Student Security guards have been made to feel increasingly unwelcome.

They’ve been told that if they didn’t like the changes in their program they were welcome to quit.

What gall. What audacity.

This university needs Student Security.

Maybe instead of spending money on security cards and superficial remodeling for Maple Hall, a few dollars could have been thrown towards protecting the students who live in all of ISU’s dorms.