University of Minnesota students have become accustomed to receiving several crime alerts a month from campus police and updates on University safety initiatives from Vice President for University Services Pam Wheelock.
On Jan. 15, Wheelock sent an email to students stating that crime at the University “continues to steadily decline” on campus. Despite Wheelock’s email, fears about crime and safety remain.
Reducing crime on campus
Following growing pressure from students and parents — in some cases threats to persuade prospective students to enroll elsewhere because of crime —University officials have done a remarkable job of instituting a multifaceted effort to increase security across campus.
In addition to installing brighter lights on University Avenue and improving lighting in other high-traffic areas, University police plan to add four officers to the late-night shift Thursdays through Saturdays this semester, the Star Tribune reported Jan. 22. The University will also add additional security cameras on well-traveled pedestrian routes. Academic buildings on campus will begin to use electronic card access sometime this spring.
Such a comprehensive security plan outlined relatively quickly deserves praise. Though there is always room for improvement, students and their families have no reason to believe that Kaler and University police are not doing everything in their capacity to improve safety on campus.
Reducing off-campus incidents
Kaler has rightly stated the importance for students to be vigilant, both for their own protection and for the safety of fellow classmates, especially in areas just off campus — including Marcy-Holmes and Southeast Como — where a large number of students live. Though more structural changes are taking place on campus to improve security, the dynamics of reducing crime off campus are slightly different. Awareness and education need to play a significant role in the effort to prevent off-campus incidents, which is why the University has launched SAFE U, a campaign that works to empower students and increase their ability to avoid being made a victim.
Solidarity between students and more permanent residents is also vital in order to increase security in areas surrounding campus. The Minnesota Daily reported Jan. 21 that block leaders, or “volunteer residents who work with crime prevention specialists to help avert crime and create a safer community,” in University neighborhoods are calling for greater student participation in meetings and efforts to make these areas safer.
Although many students may think that the few years they will spend living in University neighborhoods are not worth the time, student-neighborhood involvement is essential to improving the chances of catching criminals and preventing future crimes.
Racial profiling
The rise in crime alerts may be doing its own damage. In December, the Daily reported on a letter that six groups representing the black University student community sent to Kaler and Wheelock. The letter called for efforts to keep students safe from crime while keeping people of color safe from racial profiling.
Though University law enforcement does not tolerate racial profiling, students and other residents must also avoid suspecting and reporting people based on their race rather than behavior. Remaining vigilant and looking out for fellow students should not lead to the exclusion and marginalization of certain community members.
No one set of policy or security measures can reduce crime on its own, but combined with an engaged and informed community, the opportunity for crime can be significantly reduced.