Campus Safety

Amidst many on-campus issues, it has become abundantly clear that campus safety needs to be re-evaluated. Specifically for women, it is incredibly hard to feel safe when walking alone at night on campus. As a “closed off” community, it surely doesn’t feel like that, when the front gate policies are hardly enforced. Therefore, who knows who is able to walk on to campus.
I think that the public safety escort system needs to be more publicized. Students should be able to meet officers to get to know them better, to feel more comfortable asking for help. I primarily call a friend or loved one when walking alone and I notice that the main strip of Hawk Drive is desolate after my 9:30 p.m. class.
It would probably give some peace of mind to many, including myself, if officers also patrolled dimly lit areas more frequently.
With all the construction happening in the Village quads, there should be a better locking system on the doors of each apartment as well. As of now, the door locks behind you when you shut it, but personally, that is not enough for me. The deadbolt lock that is currently on the door is fine, but throw in a sliding lock too! These fears are fueled by personal anxiety (and maybe too many crime shows) but it is better to be safe than sorry!