Steps to improve on-campus safety

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I got this e-mail and I thought I'd share it with this internet crowd. Students, considering sending this on to your moms and dads, I think they will appreciate it.</p>

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I am writing to share with you the most current actions we are taking to enhance campus safety.</p>

<p>The Campus Security and Public Safety Committee, appointed by President Robert Zimmer in November, has held its first two meetings and has set a weekly meeting schedule in order to submit a preliminary report to the President within the next few weeks. The Committee is co-chaired by Kim Goff-Crews, Vice President and Dean of Students in the University, and Richard Rosengarten, Dean of the Divinity School, and includes members of the faculty, staff, student body, community, and Laboratory Schools.</p>

<p>The Committee’s purpose is to evaluate program and policy changes underway and develop a set of long-term recommendations to improve campus safety. Areas of focus will include transportation, communication and education, and the use of technology.</p>

<p>We will seek your feedback on the Committee’s recommendations through open campus meetings that will be scheduled before the end of the Winter Quarter. The Office of Community Affairs will also coordinate and participate in neighborhood meetings to keep area residents informed and engaged in the University’s work on public safety issues.</p>

<p>In addition to the Committee’s work, the University has hired an outside firm experienced in campus and community security to review every aspect of our safety program and recommend additional measures to further enhance safety. This firm, the Bratton Group, will work closely with the University of Chicago Police Department and members of the University administration to conduct a thorough assessment. Their review process will include a number of focus groups and interviews with students, faculty, staff, administrators, the University of Chicago Police Department, City of Chicago Police, and members of the broader community. We anticipate a set of specific recommendations from the consultant later this spring.</p>

<p>In the meantime, the specific safety enhancements we initiated before the holidays are being fully implemented. These improvements include increased police patrols in and around campus; expanded hours and staffing for the late-night van service, SafeRide; and a police substation installed at 61st and Drexel.</p>

<p>The implementation of our exterior lighting plan is also underway. As we move forward to ensure enhanced illumination that provides appropriate light levels on University property, we will also work with the City of Chicago and the community on improved exterior lighting on City property in our neighborhoods. We have received many suggestions from the University community on specific areas of campus and welcome any additional input.</p>

<p>For your information, we have created a new web page with links to additional safety resources and crime statistics at The</a> University of Chicago | Community Safety. You can also find a link to these resources on the University’s homepage under “Community Safety.” Please take a few moments to review this information. If you have additional questions about campus and neighborhood safety, please write to <a href="mailto:communityaffairs@uchicago.edu">communityaffairs@uchicago.edu</a>.

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2

<p>I'll be happy to share my own thoughts and experiences regarding crime and campus safety.</p>

<p>First, all of my interactions with the UCPD have been great. On the first day I was on campus, a parent was having a seizure and a passerby hit a blue emergency light-- the UCPD took care of the situation within seconds. Some of my friends are out and about on campus late at night (DJ's at the radio station, editors for the newspaper, pulling a late night at the library) and the UCPD have been happy to bring them home, either by walking escort or by police car.</p>

<p>Second, I think that these kinds of special considerations come with the territory of going to an urban school. I have friends at other great schools who are also having an awesome time (Penn, Columbia, NYU, Harvard, Yale etc.) but feel as equally concerned about their safety as I do and take many of the preventative steps that I do. (i.e. being aware, avoiding walking alone, etc.) Some students might not be up for the challenges than an urban campus offers, and in that case, perhaps a rural or suburban campus is a better fit. My general point is that the challenges and considerations that U of C students have are not unlike those of other students at other top schools.</p>

<p>Third, I'm happy to report on a pure anecdotal basis that I've never had problems with crime. Then again, I do my part in trying not to be a victim, but my impression is that you can avoid many potentially dangerous situations by using the University's resources.</p>

3

<p>Very true, unalove. We lived just off-campus when DH was at Penn for grad school and one must use common sense. We still had a couple of incidents, including a smash-and-run during broad daylight, and an armed robbery on our front porch at 2 am -- there were eight people sitting on the porch at the time. I carried a whistle -- only had to use it once. </p>

<p>I have to say that the Penn campus police were not nearly as transporting late-night students as Chicago is. However -- my experience dates from the late 1980s, so things may have changed since then, esp. with the recent crime issues in Philly.</p>

4

<p>Be vigilant.</p>

<p>3 armed robberies in 1 week in area.</p>

<p>Chicago</a> Maroon » Crime Report 1-29-08</p>

<p>It make take more than UCPD stepping things up. Where's CPD?</p>