Officials discuss campus safety

University officials are planning a major media campaign in response to fifth year graduate student Al-Moez Alimohamed's murder. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum held a high-level conference yesterday to develop a response to the increased demand for safety information from students. "We want to do something quickly," McCoullum said. "After we went through this most recent set of tragedies, [University President Judith] Rodin wanted to take advantage of the heightened sensitivity of awareness to safety." Eight University representatives met for two hours to discuss how to better educate the University campus on security issues. Elements of the plan will be presented to the University Council at the group's meeting today. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said Tuesday's meeting had an important focus. "We know that people are afraid," Kuprevich said. "But it's important to recognize that we can deal with the fear. "People don't need to sit around feeling scared to death," Kuprevich added. "A difference is made in the community when you help each other out." McCoullum said the University community needs to become more aware of emergency numbers and security procedures. WXPN-FM General Manager Mark Fuerst said a plan to educate students of these details could encounter some difficulties. "There is an impulse not to acknowledge the danger," Fuerst said. "On the tail-end of a tragedy, everyone wants to learn how to put their seatbelts on. "It sounds like you're running for office on a platform you can't deliver," Fuerst added. "Students are very skeptical of information unless it is presented in the right way." McCoullum said one way to effectively get the message out would be through radio and newspaper announcements and to update the video, Public Safety: Everyone's Right, Everyone's Responsibility. Director of Victim Support and Special Services Maureen Rush said an improved video would instruct people in how to utilize public safety services in an interactive manner. "We have people at the point that they're hearing," Rush said. "The video will grab attention by giving true stories [of people victimized by crime]." Kuprevich said a public safety educational program was implemented by the University in the late 1980s. The program -- which flooded the University with security information -- was successful with students beginning to utilize security services, he said. Kuprevich said he was forced to cut the program because of budget constraints. "We had choices to make," Kuprevich said. "We could not justify that spending anymore." Kuprevich also said any future plan cannot simply rely on increasing the size of the University Police force. That would shift the responsibility of security away from the community and completely onto the police, he said.