Like many other students, I have always viewed JMU as a safe-haven. A place where everyone is nice and seemingly trustworthy and where nothing can go wrong. You may call me naive or even ignorant, but I feel it is common for college students to sometimes become a little too comfortable with their surroundings. We often feel we are invincible and protected by this little bubble we call our college community. As a result we often do not take into account the real dangers that exist both inside and outside of campus boundaries.
Just last week I received a "Timely Notice" from the JMU Department of Public Safety. On October 17, 2007, a female student was abducted and sexually assaulted by an older man after leaving her class at Memorial Hall. It was not until today that this 60 year old man was arrested on account of both sexual battery and abduction/kidnapping. Earlier in the semester and on several occasions in the past three years, I have been notified of robberies, gang activity, rapes, and assault cases via these Timely Notices. Each time, I am baffled that anything of this nature could happen at JMU.
By no means am I attempting to scare anyone in writing this blog. My only hope is that students take a little more time to contemplate the issue of safety. Because unfortunately, crime is a major issue on college campuses nationwide.
During my campus visit to JMU, I remember my Dad asking the Student Ambassador giving our tour about the crime statistics both on and off campus. At the time, I really didn't think anything of my Dad's question or the Ambassador's answer. But now, especially after the Virginia Tech Tragedy, it seems that these statistics have become more of a deciding factor in one's college picking process.
Colleges and universities are doing everything possible to make sure their students feel protected. JMU for example has implemented a new emergency response plan. This improved emergency system includes cell phone alerts via text and voice messaging; blast e-mail messages, which can be sent and received within minutes; a campus siren system with a public address system; the university Web page; off-campus reverse 911 alerts; loudspeakers in each campus police patrol vehicle; and announcements on local television, radio, and newspapers.
My question is, have all these precautions on top of the campus police and hundreds of blue emergency lights scattered around campus added to our anxiety about safety or simply allowed us to feel a little bit too secure? When it comes to issues of safety, are college students letting their guard down?
Want to know more about campus crime statistics? Check out the Post Secondary Education Website. It allows anyone to locate statistics on alleged criminal offenses at a myriad of different college campuses. This Campus Security Data Analysis Tools also allows you to compare statistics between colleges.
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2 comments:
I know this doesn't speak to your point about the effect of safety measures on the student psychy, but I've wondered why no one has pointed out that this student actually got in the vehicle with this guy of her own accord? At least that is what I read in the news report (and we know how reliable those are). Yes, our world is filled with dangers and creeps; but practicing some self preservation and using caution could help us avoid a host of dangers.
TM
Well said.
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