RAB surveys students about security

An informal survey of students conducted last spring shows that a majority of students and faculty want the University's top security priority to be increasing the amount of Spectaguard and University Police officers on and around campus. The results of the security survey, conducted by the Residential Advisory Board, will be presented to officials from the Department of Public Safety, according to RAB Safety and Security Committee Co-Chairperson Emily Pollack, a College sophomore. Those surveyed during RAB's March security fair said they felt unsafe on and around 40th Street and believe the area could benefit from stepped-up security. Students living off-campus indicated a stronger desire for increased escort and police presence, as well as improved lighting, than students living in dormitories. On-campus dwellers, however, were especially concerned for the safety of their valuables during vacation periods and events like Spring Fling that draw large crowds of visitors to campus residences. As part of the survey, students and faculty were asked to rate various security initiatives and to highlight on a campus map areas where they felt unsafe. RAB members finished tabulating statistical results, but have not yet packaged the information into specific recommendations to present to Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon and Security Director Chris Algard, according to RAB Safety and Security Committee Co-Chairperson Nikki Rae. Rae, a College junior, added that it is "reasonable" to expect that the RAB will approach the security officials later this fall, but the time of meeting was contingent on both parties' schedules. But Pollack said, "It's not going to be something we just sit on." According to Pollack, students and staff were not only cooperative in completing the survey, they also showed genuine interest in discussing security issues. "People were really taking this seriously," she said. The College sophomore noted that the panel now has concrete numbers to confirm campus sentiment regarding specific initiatives and areas that may require more security -- like those west of 40th Street -- and those where students feel safe -- like well-lit Locust Walk. The RAB's safety and security committee -- which formed following last fall's campus crime wave -- addresses current residential, Greek and 21st Century Project security issues. The RAB sponsored the March exposition to demonstrate proposed security initiatives such as iris and biometric hand scanners, as well as to showcase various services provided by Spectaguard and the University Police.