A guest panel will analyze crime statistics at UH during “How Safe Do You Feel on Campus?,” hosted by the Student Government Association and the Student Program Board, on Wednesday evening. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar
Walking alone to parking lots from classrooms and residence halls in the daytime or nighttime can be daunting for students who roam UH as they clench onto their belongings.
Crime reports that highlight stolen items, shattered car windows and sidewalk muggings shine a negative light on the University. The emphasis of on-campus crime gives many students a skewed impression of safety hazards and protocols.
The Student Program Board and the Student Government Association will host a discussion — “How Safe Do You Feel on Campus?” — on the perception of high crime and the low rates of crime that occur from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the UC Theater.
“We want everyone to know that the campus is safe and that our campus is protected. We are working with SGA to help raise awareness and to give students, staff, whoever attends, the right resources available,” said SPB comedy and speakers chair and digital media junior Tabia Jarrett. “For example, the Women’s Resource Center sometimes provides self-defense classes.”
Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and UH Police Chief Ceaser Moore have been involved in numerous crime reports that include assaults, criminal mischief, burglary, traffic offense and more. Garcia and Moore will examine the misconception of high crime at the University.
Other influential guest speakers include SGA President Cedric Bandoh and Counseling and Psychological Services Clinical Director Dr. Christopher Scott.
“Our guest panel will have statistics about crime at UH, and they’ll talk about real world experiences,” Jarrett said.
Program Coordinator Terrence Campbell will represent Change Happens!, a community-based organization that helps adults and at-risk youth.
Concerned students are able to ask the guests to receive feedback about safety during the Q&A session after the presentation.
“As far as the business/east side of campus is concerned, I feel relatively safe,” said accounting junior Bradley Sui. “Elsewhere, as long as it’s the middle of the day, I don’t have a problem with.”
Will these statistics be made available to the public after the meeting? That will make it much easier to fight the misconceptions via social media.
The statistics will be covered during the presentation, but you can find information now online near the conclusion of Chancellor Khator’s 2013 Fall Address (http://www.uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-2013/FallAddress2013.pdf) and on the UH Police Department website (http://www.uh.edu/police/2012-University-of-Houston-Annual-Security-and-Fire-Report.pdf).
Does anyone else find irony in a student being assaulted and robbed on campus a mere hour and a half after this presentation? (http://www.uhnewsroom.info/go/doc/1093/2137014/ )