FORUM SET FOR ECU CAMPUS SAFETY SURVEY
GREENVILLE, NC — Forums to discuss the results of a campus safety student survey at East Carolina University will be held at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 22 at the Mendenhall Student Center Room 244; and at 6 p.m., Nov. 12, at ECU’s Willis Building.
The hour-long event, “ECUnity Safety Forum,” will offer students and the community a chance to talk with ECU and community administrators, and public safety and transit officials, about efforts made to increase campus safety since the April 2007 survey. They will also discuss the findings of the Oct. 1 campus safety walk. A reception with refreshments will follow each forum.
Michelle Lieberman, director of ECU’s Center for Off-Campus and Community Living, said the 3,917 survey responses she received from students last semester demonstrates a keen concern for safety on campus and in the surrounding neighborhood. She hopes the forum will help let students know that ECU has heard their concerns and have made efforts to respond to them.
“Too often, survey responses get put on shelves; no one knows what happens to them,” Lieberman said. “We want students to know their concerns have been heard and responded to.”
The aim of the survey was to determine what student perceptions were about campus safety; how they make themselves safe; and what they know about ECU’s campus’ safety resources, such as ECU’s Transit and Safe Ride; ECU Student Patrol; and parking services. Officials have responded in writing to the students’ concerns (extracts provided below).
Marilyn Sheerer, ECU interim provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said the results provide campus safety officials, police, and the surrounding community members with a good direction for its future programs and offerings.
“Please be assured that there is a decided emphasis being placed on safety and security on the ECU campus. Numerous strategy meetings are being held; police visibility has been increased; text messaging is available; planning around emergency response is ongoing; and off-campus services are being increased,” Sheerer said.
Other initiatives include new lights on campus; student parking allowed at 3 p.m. on the main campus; new police hires; and a change of uniform for parking monitors.
The following are highlights from responses to ECU Student Campus Safety Survey:
ECU Administration (from Marilyn Sheerer, ECU interim provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs)
• ECU Police Department is promoting more police visibility; more interaction between the police and students; and more police involvement in education and training.
• ECU’s director of Student Legal Services is in place and readily available to all students.
• ECU is working to revise its crime Alerts, and to provide better follow-up regarding suspects who have been apprehended.
• ECU’s Dean of Students has developed an administrative withdrawal policy for student who potentially pose a threat to the campus community.
ECU Police Department (from Janice Harris, ECU Police Chief):
• ECU Police Department has 17 officers (including several supervisors) trained for bicycle patrol with 11 currently riding. There is usually a minimum of two officers riding per shift, day or night.
• ECU Police has increased its number of officers by five since June, and are in the process of hiring six more officers for new positions, to total 62 officers once the hiring is complete. There are currently 15 reserve officers. There are usually ten officers per shift; two at the Health Sciences Campus; six on the main campus, and a sergeant and lieutenant. There are also three dispatchers, one at Health Sciences and two on the main campus.