‘Rumor mill’ quells crime rumors
So you heard some small talk from your neighbors about cars getting booted, dogs being held for ransom and students changing grades with library computers, right? Now these rumors can be laid to rest on the Internet thanks to efforts from the Student Government Association.
So you heard some small talk from your neighbors about cars getting booted, dogs being held for ransom and students changing grades with library computers, right?
Now these rumors can be laid to rest on the Internet thanks to efforts from the Student Government Association.
An interactive online message board, called the VCU Safety Rumor Mill, is supposed to shed light on what’s fact and what’s fiction. Students may post rumors they have heard about local crime and get real answers from University Police.
“Having VCU police message back with facts may help dispel these myths,” said Ali Faruk, student body president.
It was a conversation between Faruk and police chief Col. Willie B. Fuller that generated the idea for the message board.
“We were discussing how misinformation was a big problem on campus and that a lot of students thought VCU was unsafe because of rumors they’d heard,” Faruk said.
Faruk worked with the VCU Safety Committee to make the VCU Safety Rumor Mill a reality.
The message board can be found at www.vcusga.com. Click on “Student Government Forum,” and then look under “SGA Projects” for the link to the “VCU Safety Rumor Mill.”
Anyone may post an item on the message board. VCU police will read the postings and respond promptly, said Capt. Grant J. Warren.
“A lot of crime gets embellished and seems a lot worse than reality,” he said.
“It’s a great place and a great city,” Warren said, referring to Richmond, “and we shouldn’t get beat up over rumors.”
Kathleen Johnson, SGA special assistant for student affairs, is in charge of the message board. She believes students will use it responsibly.
“People who take the time to use the message board aren’t going to be immature about it, and I am pretty confident that misuse isn’t going to be an impeding problem,” she said.
“If people start posting ridiculous or false statements, we might have to switch to a private message system or e-mail where you can’t see what others post.”
On the Web Student Government Association
VCU Safety Rumor Mill www.vcusga.com/talk/viewforum.php?f=34
Report a crime to University Police
www.vcu.edu/police/reportcr.html
(or call 828-1234)
