With the capture of national fugitive Peter Braunstein near Rawls Hall last December, some students think The University of Memphis campus has become less safe.
However, contrary to this belief, The U of M is one of the safest major universities in Tennessee. In fact, arrests fell from 106 in 2003 to 70 in 2004. Police-officer initiated searches fell from 11,478 in 2003 to 10,194 in 2004, which is the last year available for such statistics, according to the Department of Pubic Safety.
However, figures like these have not affected the perceptions of students like Blake Melton.
Melton, senior health and human performance major, said he believes The University's security has not improved over the past two years. And this lack of improvement, according to Melton, has deterred some students from taking night classes.
Yentle Ellis, who lives in Carpenter Complex, takes night classes and says she fears rapes and robberies.
"I don't feel safe at all," she said.
According to Ellis, Tiger Patrol, the service that escorts students to and from classes, is ineffective. In her experiences they arrive late or not at all. For protection, even though they do not know if it is allowed, Ellis said she carries mace and has friends who carry box cutters because "you never know." She also believes a more visible security presence would be beneficial.
Junior political science major Stephen Christian lived in South Hall for two years and said during his stay a rash of car break-ins and vandalisms took place. A more noticeable police presence was instituted to stem the problem he said. Christian also acted to protective himself.
For example, he began using a parking lot he considered safer and he tried to park next to cars more expensive than his, hoping to give the vandals a more desirable choice.
Bruce Harber, University director of public safety, said some people's belief that the campus is not as safe as it should be is "very surprising."
The University has taken many security measures to improve safety and he anticipates crime at The U of M will have fallen by 10 percent in 2005.
The University does have plans to increase the visibility of its personnel. When the weather warms students can expect to see more officers on bicycles and in parking lots, according to Harber.
Harber also said any student's concerns should be directed to the public safety offices and he invites students to participate in this spring's Safety Forum. Also, Monday in the Alumni Building at 11:30 a.m., the Department of public safety will unveil a joint venture with the Memphis Police Department that will focus on problem solving and community policing in The U of M area.
