A fellow editor of mine once advised me that there are two issues a writer can never cover too much: business and violence.
While at first I was hesitant to broach the subject of downtown violence — there have been several news stories covering the problem and I myself wrote a column earlier in the semester disputing the Greek community's idea of instituting a neighborhood watch — I decided to take my friend's advice. I'll risk facing angry readers for the whole of winter break and write about something I genuinely care about, and a problem I have spent a significant amount of time this semester worrying about.
While I realize my worry won't get me anywhere, I can't help but make yet another attempt at influencing the student body and the city officials who are dedicating their time to addressing the surge in crime.
The fall semester began like any other: Within minutes of arriving on campus, students could be overheard discussing their plans for the upcoming weekend. Just a few weeks later, Halloween became the hot-button issue, and all the attention was yet again placed on Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. The weekend went off without a hitch, and students returned to their regular schedules of studying, sleeping and imbibing.
Amid all of this, there was a shadow looming over downtown Madison. Every couple of weeks, we in the newsroom would hear of another rape, another assault, another robbery. We would then report it to you, the readers, who in turn would spend the next few nights seeking company on your walks home from the library, the bars and wherever else you ended up in wee hours of the morning. The fuss would inevitably die down, and students would assume it was the end of the problem.
When the crime only worsened, a few determined souls hit the streets, determined to take the law into their hands in the form of a neighborhood watch program on Langdon Street. As I suggested in a previous column, while many were enthusiastic about seeing students motivated about anything (these were the same people who still found it shocking that so few students voted in the election), an equal number found this plan alarming, dangerous and completely counterproductive. Loyal readers know I urged the Greek community to rethink the plan, realize that the repercussions of such a system were not all good (taking pressure off city law-enforcement officials is never a good thing) and to think harder — and more seriously — about their strategies.
Needless to say, the Greek community marched on, and so did the predators: Just this week, a third UW student was sexually assaulted. While I am sure the members of the neighborhood watch are up in arms about such an obvious failure in their system, there are more important things to focus our time and resources on.
So timing is everything, and following the inclusion of $100,000 for a downtown safety initiative in the City Council's budget (which was passed just last month), Madison Police Department Chief Noble Wray, who will make the final decision on the allocation of the funds, has a lot to think about. How should the money be spent, who should it be given to, and what is the most cost effective way to make a noticeable improvements in downtown safety?
Although there is no way significant changes can be made prior to students' return to campus in January, it is my hope that city officials — Mr. Wray, Mayor Cieslewicz, and both Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and Ald. Austin King, District 8 — will use the students' hiatus as an opportunity to take time to look at the bigger picture and make a responsible decision.
I do not believe a dime of this large sum of money should be given to the Greek community's neighborhood watch. In fact, I am willing to argue that while it may be an idea that allows them to feel good about themselves, and their supposed bettering of the community, it is nice in theory only and must be abandoned as a real solution to these serious problems.
The $100,000 should be given instead to programs that are already organized, successful and could genuinely and significantly benefit from supplementary funding, such as SAFEwalk and SAFEride. Both groups could use the money to expand their services, from hiring additional employees who walk students home to adding more busses to the existing roots. Further cooperation between the UW Police Department and the Madison Police Department will also only benefit the community and help to bridge the gap between two groups that must continue to collaborate on solutions to downtown violence.
Beyond that, we can only hope the UW Police Department can push for other efforts they believe will help students — such as emergency street lights. Perhaps best of all, the student body will be reassured that such suggestions and proposals are coming from a legitimate agency, rather than a group of inexperienced students.
No matter who you are or where you're from, Madison is your home, whether only for another semester or for several years to come. Pay attention, keep worrying and stay attuned to how your city officials handle this problem. It will inevitably make headlines again next semester.
Emily Friedman ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and legal studies.
