That was Capt. Joseph Herbert's message to students at a Safety Forum sponsored by the Student Government Association Tuesday evening.
In the wake of last week's stabbing at University Village, officials answered questions and reassured students that crime is decreasing overall.
Towson University Director of Public Safety Bernie Gerst, Baltimore County Capt. Karen Johnson, and Vice President for Student Affairs Deb Moriarty listened to concerns and answered questions for about an hour in the University Union Susquehanna Terrace.
"Our number one concern is the safety of our students, on campus or off campus," Moriarty stressed.
Courtney Becker, a resident assistant in Tower D, was one of the first students to ask a question. "What has to be done now to ensure that residents are safe in their own rooms?" she asked. "Take advantage of the systems that are available on campus," Gerst said.
Gerst's advice was clear: Follow the guest sign-in system; don't prop open exit-only doors; keep room doors locked at all times; use peepholes before opening room doors; and generally, stay aware of surroundings.
"If you defeat the system, you will defeat the security," he said, referring to students who avoid security or sneak in through exit-only doors.
Gerst cited crime statistics that demonstrate a downward trend of serious crimes.
In 1995, with an enrollment of 14,551 students, Towson reported 450 part-one crimes, which include rape, robbery, sexual assault, and murder. In 2004, with an increase to 17,661 students, Towson reported 212 part-one crimes.
While the number of people on campus has increased, the number of crimes has decreased, and the drop may be even more significant next year. As of Oct. the TUPD has reported 111 part-one crimes.
"I'm looking forward to another decrease," Gerst said.
Off-campus safety concerns were also addressed. SGA senator Kristen Boblooch, a sophomore nursing major, said many of her friends are concerned about security at University Village. Even though the complex is technically off-campus, "many of them think it's Towson's responsibility," Boblooch said.
Other students said the Village's response to the incident has been inadequate. But Gerst noted that the TUPD cannot patrol the entire community.
"Name an apartment complex," Gerst said. "If the heat didn't work in the entire building, who are you going to call?"
The management, he answered: "The first people you need to deal with are the people you're renting from."
SGA vice president McShane Murphey, a junior mass communication major, was concerned about the lack of communication between students and officials.
"We received the e-mail [about Tower A], but I don't remember receiving an alert for the University Village stabbing," he said.
Gerst explained that Towson sends crime alerts for incidents that "pose a continuing threat to the campus community."
In the stabbing case, Gerst and Johnson spoke "no less than three times" in the initial hours following the crime, and officers were confident that students were not in danger.
"You don't want us sending something out every time something occurs, because eventually it's information overload and you won't pay attention to it," he said.
The officials asked for feedback about safety. Senior Ory Streeter asked if TUPD's emergency phone line could be changed to make the number more memorable. Students also suggested ways to publicize the number more effectively. The on-campus emergency phone number is (410) 704-2133.
|
|
|
| Home | Copyright Brian Stelter |