Night walking on campus

The Monroe Park Campus is pitch black, street signs are barely visible and the faded shadows of streetlights flicker in the distance. A female student quickly scurries through the park anxiously flipping her head in all directions, leery of what lies ahead.

Walking VCU’s campus alone at night is a common necessity among students, endangering innocent lives and putting students in harm’s way.

“I have felt unsafe on-campus,” said Monique Glover, a mass communications major. “I feel safe sometimes at night, but if I see people in my walking path, I get nervous.”

To help students avoid walking alone at night, VCU offers the Security Escort Service, which drives students to their desired destination near campus.

The 2008 annual VCU crime report listed larceny as the largest and most numerous offense on campus. However, using common sense, becoming familiar with the area and being surrounded by others reduce the risk of becoming a predator’s target, said Cpl. Rebecca Ellison, VCU’s crime prevention specialist.

“The VCU Police suggest always walking in the company of others,” Ellison stated in an e-mail.

According to Ellison, every person regardless of gender, race or ethnicity can fall victim to an attacker. No one should think it can’t happen to them.

“Everyone is vulnerable and must be responsible for their personal safety,” Ellison stated. “Gender is not the issue, it is personal awareness that is paramount.”

Attackers prey on people who are easily distracted, or those who are not paying attention. Predators strive to take the path of least resistance, requiring three classifications of a victim, Ellison stated.

“One: victim; two: assailant; and three: opportunity,” Ellison stated. “If a person is able to remove opportunity from the victimization triangle, they can possibly avoid becoming a victim.”

Biology Major James Gibson said, “I don’t feel safe because I’m paranoid. I don’t trust people, so I carry a knife with me.”

Avoiding dangerous unlit areas and alleyways are instant ways to increase safety, followed by strength in numbers. Although there is truth to the safety-in-numbers philosophy, true security really lies within the individual to be cautious when it comes to safety, Ellison stated.

According to Ellison, the VCU police participate in summer orientation programs to educate incoming students and their parents on campus safety. VCU police also conduct residence hall safety seminars each fall semester and provide safety presentations and coordinate safety programs with the VCU Office of Greek Life.

“VCU has over 90 sworn police officers and over 300 non-sworn security officers,” Ellison stated. “We are the largest campus police department in the commonwealth and are a state-accredited agency.”