Theft cripples Music Technology program
Copy Editor
REPORTING BY DAVID BANUELOS AND MIKO CALIVO
In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 4, sometime after security made their rounds at 2 a.m., a Pro Control surround sound mixing console— valued at about $80,000—was stolen out of the Music Technology Department in the 800 building.
Andy Williams, a first year audio student, was first to arrive at the scene on Sunday morning. “I walked in and the console cover was lying in the hallway and then when I opened the door the console was missing,” Williams said. “The cables were strewn around and the computer was sitting in the middle of the room.”
After alerting the police and supervising instructor Cody Groom, Williams continued to look around. “When we walked into our makeshift vocal booth we discovered that someone had bashed the window in with a rock,” he said.
Police took fingerprints at the scene, but because forensic analysis is conducted in order of priority, nothing may come of the lead. Groom estimates that at least two people were involved, since carrying the 75- pound console would have been a tremendous task for one person.
Although this incident was by far the most ambitious, the Music Technology Department has been plagued by theft all year. “Everyone’s pretty angry and upset,” said Matt Fordham, one the departments head instructors. “They don’t understand how someone could be so selfish.”
The console could not have gone missing at a more inopportune time. Second year students have been hard at work replacing the audio in the first two “Mad Max” movies, which are set for screening in two weeks. Referring to the movie, Fordham said that the loss “affects the current students in a big way. It’s a shame to have this as yet another obstacle in such an intense process.”
According to Neal Burfitt, a student in the Music Technology program, backup gear is being used “in hopes of finishing the film on time,” but added that “Morale has fallen off in a big way.”
Steve Malott, another faculty member in the department, was impressed by the students’ perseverance despite the loss of the console. “They’ve been beaten down with all the theft this year,” Malott said. “They’re in there busting their butts to get the film done as we speak. I’m very proud to be associated with this group of students.”
Taylor Lynn, another student in the program, shared this optimism. “I feel violated, but our hard work won’t be in vain. A missing Pro Control cannot stop us from achieving our goals.”
“The most devastating thing about this is the fact that many students won’t have the same opportunities as me,” said second year student John Nold. “I’m afraid that it will cripple the department.”
Without the Pro Control console, which was used by as many as 20 students a day, the Music Technology department may very well be crippled. According to Steve Malott, “[SCC] won’t be able to offer surround mixing unless [the console] is replaced.” Mallot add that “this skill is vital in the pro world.”
Replacing the highly valuable console, however, is fraught with complications. “We don’t know if we’ll be able to replace the gear yet. That’s our only surround mixer,” said Fordham. He added that, because the SCC is self-insured, “we’re not sure if they’ll find the money in the budget given the current crunch. It’s going to be tricky.”
Funding for the department’s equipment has come exclusively from the student government. The program itself has been sustained by lab fees for years, with no direct funding coming from SCC. Although Humanities Dean Norma Goldstein has told the students that the gear will be replaced as soon as possible, there is no official word yet on when that might be, or where the money will come from to cover the substantial cost.
Neal Burfitt observed that students will be feeling the affects of the theft well after this year. “It’s bad for second year students right now but its almost worse for the first year students because they might not get to start second year classes on time,” he said.
Andy Williams echoed this statement. “It’s frustrating that we won’t have access to that console next year,” he said. “It’s further frustrating,” Williams added, “that theft has been occurring all year and nothing’s been done about it.”
According to Steve Malott, the department has requested both additional security and labs for the equipment, but has been denied. The locks in Lab D were not changed when the Pro Control console was installed.
“I don’t think it’s related to anyone on the inside,” said Cody Groom, who pointed out that students would seem to have little motivation to steal equipment that they had access to. Groom speculates that the burglars may have used to facility tours the instructor gives to scope the equipment, but added that he did not know “100 percent.”
During the school year, the 800 building, which is usually open until midnight from Thursday to Sunday, becomes a second home for students in the Music Technology program. “This program has become like a family to me and so many others,” said John Nold. “To have it taken away would be a huge loss.”
Anybody with knowledge about the incident is encouraged to either contact the faculty at SCC’s Music Technology department (206-546- 4687), or the Shoreline Police Department at (206) 546-6730.
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