With classes back in session and students flocking to campus, local police departments are urging students to keep campus safety tips and resources in mind.
“The largest problem we see is larceny and theft,” MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said. “Don’t leave your items unattended and be sure to close your door, even if you’re only going across the hall.”
According to the 2009 MUPD Campus Crime & Fire Safety Report, most theft on campus occurs during the daylight hours and without any kind of forced entry.
“I feel pretty safe in Columbia, depending on where I am,” junior Kenny Alonzo said. “On campus it’s usually fine, but I’d be nervous if it was 3 a.m. and I was downtown.”
Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Latisha Stroer said the library can be a dangerous place for students to leave their belongings alone.
“I see a lot of students leave their laptops, iPods and cell phones at the table where they’re studying when they get up to go to the bathroom,” Stroer said. “It only takes a minute for someone to come up and grab your laptop or cell phone and then they’re gone.”
The emergency blue-light phone system, comprised of emergency phones distributed throughout campus, is another resource available to students. According to a previous Maneater article, there are 214 blue-light phones across the MU campus.
“If one of the blue lights is pushed, it rings directly to our communications office,” Weimer said. “The operators know where those phones are located and send someone to it.”
Alonzo said he thinks the response time for the blue-light emergency phones has some room for improvement.
“I was in a situation once where a friend had to push one of the emergency buttons for another person and it was at least 10 minutes before the police got to the scene,” Alonzo said. “By that time, something bad could have happened.”
In addition to the emergency phones, the Rape Aggression Defense program is an MUPD-directed self-defense course for women. The course is held several times throughout the year and gives both hands-on and textbook self-defense training.
“We have the RAD program in place for women, and we are able to set up other safety programs if they are needed,” Weimer said. “We cater the programs to you.”
Bicycle registration and laptop engraving are two additional safety services available through MUPD. Weimer said his best advice is to not leave items lying around, walk in well-lit areas and travel in pairs.
For off-campus students, Stroer said CPD sends out a safety checklist before breaks to remind students to stop their mail, lock their residence and take their valuables with them.
Stroer said she encourages students to use the buddy system when walking across campus and to let others know when they plan to be back.
“Make sure someone always knows where you are,” Stroer said. “It may feel like Mom and Dad all over again, but telling your roommate when you have class or work gives them an idea that something is up if you don’t report back.”
