Disparity seen between on- and off-campus safety
Most students agree with the survey's findings that the campus is extremely safe.
"I feel pretty safe. There's a lot of security, a lot of officers everywhere," Freshman Amy Ng said.
However, only 2,200 of 6,000 total students lived on campus during the spring 2008 term.
Though a significant percentage of students in off-campus housing live within a quarter to a half-mile of campus, these students feel that there should be more done to protect off-campus students.
"I can never walk home in the dark. I know so many people - guys - who have been mugged. There should at least be blue lights off campus," senior Helena Cortes said.
"There should be people assigned in a car, especially once you pass St. Paul Street. On campus there are lots of people so you don't even need as much security. It's when you're walking alone that you do," senior Lauren Links said.
"Surrounding areas are a big challenge … they were formerly the obligation of the city, but we do our part because we have so many people that do live off campus," Burger said. "[Security] looks at where students live so that we are actually patrolling where we have heavy areas of students."
On campus, security has responded to very few emergencies this year.
"The only [emergency] I've had is over the radio; I heard of juveniles on bikes harassing students. There's nothing I've encountered that has been physical," Bike Officer Tyrone Daniels said.
However, if Daniels does encounter a physical attack, he would be unable to respond himself.
"We [bike officers] are just eyes and ears, so all we can do is call [an emergency] in. The C.P.O. s [Campus Police Officers] have all the arresting powers," Daniels said.
Unlike bike officers, the campus police are trained to physically respond to an emergency beyond just placing a call. "The officers must go through a lot of training for different situations such as active shooter and bomb threats. We get a lot of training for that. There is an in-service once a year," Barnes said.
Campus police prioritize regular review of shooter scenarios. Security staff are constantly updated on phone numbers to call and correct emergency procedures.
However, crimes are much more likely to occur off campus. "Many crimes off campus are crimes of opportunity - bottom floor windows left open - and for those I think education is the answer," Burger said.
According to Barnes, being visible is one of the most important parts of campus security. When asked what he did to promote campus safety, he said, "Be very vigilant so students can see us out there. Be alert and be active."
"I feel pretty safe. There's a lot of security, a lot of officers everywhere," Freshman Amy Ng said.
However, only 2,200 of 6,000 total students lived on campus during the spring 2008 term.
Though a significant percentage of students in off-campus housing live within a quarter to a half-mile of campus, these students feel that there should be more done to protect off-campus students.
"I can never walk home in the dark. I know so many people - guys - who have been mugged. There should at least be blue lights off campus," senior Helena Cortes said.
"There should be people assigned in a car, especially once you pass St. Paul Street. On campus there are lots of people so you don't even need as much security. It's when you're walking alone that you do," senior Lauren Links said.
"Surrounding areas are a big challenge … they were formerly the obligation of the city, but we do our part because we have so many people that do live off campus," Burger said. "[Security] looks at where students live so that we are actually patrolling where we have heavy areas of students."
On campus, security has responded to very few emergencies this year.
"The only [emergency] I've had is over the radio; I heard of juveniles on bikes harassing students. There's nothing I've encountered that has been physical," Bike Officer Tyrone Daniels said.
However, if Daniels does encounter a physical attack, he would be unable to respond himself.
"We [bike officers] are just eyes and ears, so all we can do is call [an emergency] in. The C.P.O. s [Campus Police Officers] have all the arresting powers," Daniels said.
Unlike bike officers, the campus police are trained to physically respond to an emergency beyond just placing a call. "The officers must go through a lot of training for different situations such as active shooter and bomb threats. We get a lot of training for that. There is an in-service once a year," Barnes said.
Campus police prioritize regular review of shooter scenarios. Security staff are constantly updated on phone numbers to call and correct emergency procedures.
However, crimes are much more likely to occur off campus. "Many crimes off campus are crimes of opportunity - bottom floor windows left open - and for those I think education is the answer," Burger said.
According to Barnes, being visible is one of the most important parts of campus security. When asked what he did to promote campus safety, he said, "Be very vigilant so students can see us out there. Be alert and be active."
Be the first to comment on this story