Opinion

Take campus safety seriously

Take a look at the headlines in the past few days: “Wisconsin releases the most sex offenders in the nation,” “Sexual Assault on Gorham” and “Armed robbery on West Gilman.”

These headlines demonstrate that campus safety is a reoccurring problem. Sexual assault and crime are real threats on this campus and every effort should be made to create programs and policies to prevent such occurrences.

Students need to be given ample choices and options for protection to create an environment of utmost security.

To this end, the University of Wisconsin must make adjustments for students when physical changes are being made to campus; changes such as major road construction affect a significant portion of the campus.

When road construction began on West Johnson Street, for instance, streetlights were no longer a useful aide for students walking home late at night. In addition to that hindrance, the roads are full of dangerous, unmarked holes along with many dark areas behind machinery in which potential attackers could take refuge.

The city and the UW need to take the lead in situations like these and make the necessary adjustments to ensure students feel and are safe on their way home at night.

A completely dark street in an area in which many students must travel alone should never exist on this campus. It will only be a matter of time until this comes back to haunt the city in the form of a serious attack.

Not only should considerations be made to alter the physical nature of this campus in favor of safety, there should also be more provisions made for students in the event they do not feel comfortable on campus; provisions such as the SAFEride program.

Sadly, however, UW Transportation Services Director Lance Lunsway does not recognize the value of this program. Instead of increasing funding for this useful program, he decided to cut back its funding in favor of programs with little respect from students, like SAFEwalk.

It is time for the UW and the city to realize that without providing the highest level of safety possible for its students, they are endangering both the students and one of the finest institutions in this country.

Until everyone realizes that safety needs to top the list of priorities here at UW, we will continue to read headlines about crime and assault and will constantly fear a tragic death or assault on campus.