Eastern
Michigan University administrators are being even more
proactive to improve public safety in response to four
incidents on or near campus since May.
Plans to utilize more public safety personnel, start an
Eagle Eye crime watch program, add security cameras to
buildings around campus, and the use of emergency assistance
stations in the Mark-Jefferson science building and Strong
Hall were outlined by University officials during a Dec.
6 town hall meeting hosted by EMU President John Fallon
and Student Government President Bobby Murkowski.
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FIRE DAMAGE: A boarded window and others
blackened from smoke are reminders of
a Nov. 27
fire in King Hall that caused damage
to Student
Judicial Service offices. President
Fallon hosted a
town hall meeting Dec. 6 where
public safety on
campus was the
topic of discussion.
|
"Depending on who you talk to, these events offend our
sensibility as to who we are as a community or are just
downright frightening The fact of the matter is, this is
precipitated by actual events," Fallon said.
Murkowski said that several EMU students expressed their
concerns about campus safety to student government representatives,
prompting the call for the meeting.
"We want to get the facts out there and how we're handling
it. Safety is vital to campus," said Murkowski, who credited
EMU's Department of Public Safety for "doing a good job."
Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs, outlined
the prior incidents for a large crowd of faculty, staff
and students who gathered in the Intermedia Gallery in
McKenny Union.
They are:
- On May 11, a female EMU student was sexually and criminally
assaulted in Mark-Jefferson.
- On Nov. 7, the wife of an EMU faculty member was assaulted
at her home in Ypsilanti.
- On Nov. 27, a fire in King Hall damaged the offices
of Student Judicial Services (SJS). The Michigan Arson
Prevention Association is offering a reward up to $5,000
for information leading to the arrest and or conviction
of anyone on arson charges in relation to the King Hall
fire. If you have a tip, please call toll free 1-800-44-ARSON
or go to the Department of Public Safety Web site at http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police.htm and
click on DPStips to write an e-mail and leave a tip.
- On Dec. 1, an EMU employee was robbed around 10 p.m.
in Alexander Hall. The suspect is described as a black
male, approximately 5'6"-5'8" with a medium complexion,
34-45 years old and approximately 160 lbs. He is described
as wearing a black knit hat, dark clothing and a black
leather jacket, with a short waist.
"This not only affects our faculty, staff and students,
but affects residents of Ypsilanti as well," Vick said. "In
each case, the University community was notified by e-mail
of what information was available."
Vick said Student Judicial Services has been relocated
to the third floor of Snow Health Center and will remain
there until they move to their permanent offices in the
new student center, which is expected to be open in November
2006.
"They've (SJS) managed to keep running without missing
a beat," Vick said.
Vick added the University is in the process of "re-keying
all buildings on campus and all residence hall rooms." When
the Alexander building is re-keyed, there will be only
one door open during evening hours to control access, he
said. The University also is experimenting with keyless
access at Halle Library, he said.
Other security measures include:
- a contracted guard service has been on campus the past
six weeks and will remain until all campus buildings are
re-keyed.
- Since September, six community service officers have
patrolled campus and conducted walk-throughs of buildings.
The community service officers are EMU students who have
been trained in police procedures, but do not carry firearms.
- The SEEUS program is available and students can call
for an escort to walk them home at night. To contact SEEUS,
call 487-3387.
- Security cameras have recently been installed in Best,
Buell, Downing and Wise residence halls. These connect
directly to DPS. More security cameras are in the process
of being installed at various campus buildings.
-
 |
BE ALERT: The Department
of Public
Safety has
started an Eagle Eye crime
watch
program on campus. |
The College of Business parking structure has been completed
re-lamped.
- An Eagle Eye crime watch program has commenced. Faculty,
staff and students can learn to prevent crime and the
types of information requested to report a crime. Crimes
can reported by calling 911 from campus phones and 487-1222
using cell phones.
"It's kind of like a neighborhood watch program in academic
buildings," Vick said.
- DPS and the physical plant conduct a weekly survey of
light poles on campus to see that they are working properly.
- More than 200 tree branches in secluded campus areas
have been cut in the last year and the physical plant logs
daily any incidents where doors are reported as being ajar,
said Tony Catner, associate vice president for facilities.
"We believe in being proactive rather than waiting for
an incident to happen," Catner said.
- Gary Reffitt, director of purchasing and communications,
said he recently walked campus with student government
representatives to identify any spaces where emergency
phones are needed on campus. Currently, there are 41 such
phones, Reffitt said.
- Steve Holda, interim director of finance, told the
audience that administrators were meeting Dec. 9 to discuss
lighting and other security equipment that can be installed
at what he described as "high-priority areas" on campus.
- EMU Police Chief Cindy Hall demonstrated a prototype of
an emergency assistance station for the audience. Much
like a fire alarm, faculty, staff and students will be
able to pull a lever that will activate a blue strobe light,
which draws attention. The station also includes video
and intercom capabilities that directly feed back, through
voice-over Internet, to the DPS station.
"We can assess visually what is going from DPS and assess
the situation by talking with them (whoever activated the
strobe light)," Hall said. "If a suspect runs, cameras
there or in the area can offer a visual image."
These stations will be located at entrance/exit points
in Mark Jefferson and Strong Hall, beginning in January
on a pilot basis, Hall said.
A few EMU students expressed their concern about walking
around campus at night. After listening to students, DPS
Officer Candace Dorsey said, "There
are lots of things we can offer to help students feel better.
There is a lot of knowledge we can offer."
Self-defense courses for women only will be offered Sunday
evenings from 4:45-7:45 p.m. starting in January. Classes
are scheduled Jan. 15, 22, 29 and Feb. 5. Those who register
must attend all four classes. To register or for additional
information, call Dorsey at 487-0987.
"We're far from finished with this. There's lots to do," Fallon
said.
