Even with increased police presence, crime alerts seem to have UH students afraid of the dark.
‘Until lately I did feel pretty safe,’ business junior David Mares said. ‘Now, I don’t know. I’m a night student. I’m afraid to walk alone to my car. For night students it is kind of scary to walk alone on campus.’
But UH Police Chief Malcolm Davis said he believes the amped up security is the change the campus needed.
‘In my line of business most of the time I don’t need 11 officers (on duty); right now I do,’ he said. ‘We have officers on foot, bike and driving around common areas. Just because you don’t see them does not mean they are not there.’
History junior Abdul Rashid said he wants to see officers’ presence at night, especially in the parking lot near Robertson Stadium.
‘The University can hire more police and increase their visibility. (And) they should put up cameras at each bus stop,’ Rashid said.
Music sophomore Alex Gonzalez said feeling uneasy on campus is nothing new.
‘It’s been unsafe for a long time. I used to work late on campus and some of my co-workers got jacked up in the parking lot,’ Gonzalez said. ‘We need more cops on campus and in the parking lots. Crime is still increasing. During the day I do feel safe. But not at night.’
Other students also share Gonzalez’s feelings.
‘I do not believe the University is safe for many people. Besides the shooting that has happened recently, there have been a number of robberies and assaults reported since I have been attending this college,’ kinesiology senior Monica Bhakta said.
Student Government Association is looking at alternative ideas to safeguard campus from the busy city streets that surround it.
SGA president Sam Dike proposed the creation of natural barriers such as a tree line to pump up privacy. He also proposed closing Cullen Boulevard to cars to help control access points to the school and eliminate traffic and pedestrian problems.
Dike said in order to create safe communities, students need to be alert and responsible.
‘Exercise good judgment,’ he said.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio’s bill to allow guns at Texas public universities may mean to put student’s safety in their own hands, but Robert Griffin, communications director of Students for Personal Safety, opposes the idea of guns on campus.
‘Sometimes the idea that there are weapons on campus would deter some criminals from coming on campus,’ he said. ‘(But) you will always have to worry about the irresponsible gun owner. If the bill passed we will work hard to minimize the chance of someone irresponsible using their gun by signing people up for (concealed handgun license) classes.’
Griffin conducted a survey last week on student’s feelings about this bill. His findings indicated that 61 percent of students who took the survey say the idea of people being able to carry a gun on campus makes them nervous. The survey also found that people are not informed on issues of gun control on campus and safety.
Earth science senior John Sim said he likes the prohibition of dangerous weapons on campus.
‘We entrust to the security and the police department to bear the weapons and to prevent this from happening,’ Sim said. ‘Whenever you introduce a weapon on someone’s person there is the temptation to use that weapon. There are people on campus too that do tend to have an aggressive side and it gives them one more excuse to have that weapon.’
Davis said it is OK for students to carry pepper spray, small knives or even a taser gun. But he wants students to carry these responsibly.
‘If you are going to take it out, make sure you use it,’ he said. ‘If you don’t, you can make sure the bad guy is going to have (a weapon) and he will use it.’
Davis said he also wants students to use the emergency blue boxes and the police escort service and to call UHPD if students see something or someone suspicious.
‘Bother us,’ he said. ‘That is why we are here.’
Students can reach UHPD by dailing 911 from any phone on campus or calling (713) 743-3333. UHPD offices are located at 3896 Wheeler St.
