Addressing VCU’s security woes

Nikki Wertz
Columnist

Earlier this week, the students of VCU were alerted by President Rao of the conviction of yet another employee at the university charged with sex-based crimes involving a minor. As a result, precautions have been put in place to secure a better environment in which students can work and study.

The employees facing charges will be terminated, ensuring that our university’s strong reputation will continue.

Instead of being shamed and lambasted for recognizing and addressing the incidences, the administration took immediate actions to both separate themselves from the offenders and prevent similar incidents from happening.

The recent sex-based crimes primarily pertain to the working environment at VCU, rather than directly relating to our academic environment. Improved hiring practices, such as background checks and more efficient interviews can be implemented to clear out those that might trouble for the university in the future. The administration has kept us informed of the happenings of these sex-based crimes.

But have they done enough?

On the recent cases regarding robberies around VCU, the administration had been rather tight lipped. While that’s understandable on some level because of the limitations in reporting, the student body needs visible actions done in order to restore confidence in the VCU Police.

Hopefully, in the near future, VCU’s administration will outline more of their procedures or precautions, instead of just sending out safety tips.

Even though our safety cannot be guaranteed, it is a relief to know that there are things being done to make VCU a safer environment for everyone.

With the increased coverage and prosecution of both sex offenders on the national level and common robbers in the local news, awareness of such crimes has also risen.

Even in our community within the city, people should take and have taken steps to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of others by reporting suspicious behavior. It is important not only to fend for ourselves, but to have the ability to look out for others through the communication we have established to report activities.

Every so often something sneaks through, but I believe that the campus and the administrative work their hardest to ensure our safety. I also have confidence that if anything were to happen on campus it would be dealt with immediately from a professional standpoint, as per President Rao’s email.

President Rao made an important point when he said that everything will be dealt with respect and integrity of the justice system. The importance of due process and integrity in prosecuting the offenders, especially within VCU, ensures that the offender will be brought to justice properly.

Even throughout these dark times with sex-based crimes and street robberies springing up across the nation and in our own city, it is good to know that the authorities and authoritative figures are taking a stand to ensure the health, safety and security of all of us, be staff, employee, student or visitor.