Students walk up to campus past a security light by Boulder Creek on Tuesday. CUSG has promised to ramp up campus security efforts in light of recent events. (CU Independent/Patrick Ghidossi)
In light of recent attacks both on and off campus against CU students, CUSG officials say they are working to make the campus safer.
CUSG Health and Safety Director Corey Wiggins, a 20-year-old junior political science and secondary education major, said CUSG is working with two student groups, Safety Buffs and the Safety Initiatives Coalition to improve campus safety.
“The creation of the Safety Initiatives Coalition in 2009 and Safety Buffs in 2010 are both pieces of the safety plan that are actively working to improve safety of campus,” Wiggins said.
CUSG’s VP of External Affairs Allison Foley said making the campus safer is a long process. However, many ideas have already been discussed to improve safety such as more lighting around campus.
“It’s kind of a long process to try to make the campus safer,” Foley said. “Lighting improvements on campus, offering more self-defense classes. We’re doing weekly safety tips and posting them around campus and safety seminars.”
Elysse Richardson, a 19-year-old freshman psychology major, said more lights would improve campus safety.
“Maybe more lights around campus,” Richardson said. “Not everywhere but just in certain places.”
Richardson also said she would take a self-defense class if she had the time.
Jared Cruise, an 18-year-old freshman business major, said he would also participate in a self-defense class.
“Yeah, it’s always something you could use in your life,” Cruise said.
Foley said campus safety is one of CUSG’s top priorities because students come to CU because they feel comfortable here.
“The reason why people chose to go here is because they feel comfortable,” Foley said. “It’s monumental. [It’s] one of our top priorities. Safety always comes first.”
Some students however, said they do feel comfortable on campus.
Kate Schoech, an 18-year-old freshman pre-journalism and mass communication major said she feels safe on campus because she sees cops regularly.
“I feel that Boulder’s really safe, and there’s cops everywhere,” Schoech said. “I don’t really feel a danger. The dorms do a good job with security and stuff.”
Andrew Zajicek, an 18-year-old freshman psychology major, said he also feels safe on campus because of the presence of police.
“Yes I do feel safe on campus,” Zajicek said. “There’s more adults walking around and lots of cops in Boulder. I’m a guy which also helps because I can walk alone.”
Foley said the key to a safer campus, is safer students who are willing to protect themselves.
“They need to be willing to educate themselves,” Foley said. “CUSG can’t do everything to protect the people. It’s our job to keep the campus safe. We need to make sure students are doing their part.”
Both Zajicek and Richardson said they walk with someone at night to stay safe on campus. However, neither of them said they have seen the weekly safety tips posted around campus.
“I have not seen safety tips anywhere,” Zajicek said.
Foley said that until some of the bigger changes occur around campus, such as more lights, students should be aware of their surroundings and look out for each other.
“Look out for others,” Foley said. “We have to help each other out and be there for each other. That’s the biggest thing. Be aware for yourself but be even more aware for other people.”
Foley said that because campus safety is so important, having to spend a lot of money improving it would not be a problem.
“We’re willing to do whatever is necessary to make the campus safe,” Foley said. “We work with the CU Boulder police, we work with the Boulder police department as well as with things happening on the hill. We’re willing to do whatever is necessary and pay whatever is necessary to make sure our campus is safe for our students.”
Wiggins said students who want to get involved in campus safety can attend the weekly Safety Buff meetings which will be on Mondays, 3 p.m in UMC room 125
Foley said the best thing students can do to stay safe on campus is to look out for one another.
“We really are a family and we really do need to be looking out for each other,” Foley said. “That’s going to be the best way to keep our campus safe. It is amazing what people can do when not just one person is standing alone.”
Contact CU Independent News Budget Editor Sheila V Kumar at Sheila.kumar@colorado.edu.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lindsay Wilcocks at Lindsay.wilcocks@colorado.edu.
