Back to school time has arrived once again, but this year the ASU student body has reason to be on edge. Security on campus is more important than ever following a summer full of terror in the Valley of the Sun.
This summer saw two separate serial killer cases: the Baseline Killer and the Serial Shooter. Although two suspects in the Serial Shooter case have been arrested, the Baseline Killer is still at large.
But students are still returning to campus and getting back to their school routines, despite concerns about personal safety.
Business sophomore Hillary Morton says she is worried when walking around crowded streets.
"Even walking down Apache [Boulevard] is bad," she says. "One morning some guy stopped me and asked me to get into his car with him."
The Baseline Killer is an elusive criminal. Police do not have any suspects at this time. The Baseline Killer has been linked not only to murders, but also sexual assaults and robberies -23 crimes in all, including eight murders. One of these murders took place in Tempe last September, less than three miles from campus.
Police say the killer has a wide variety of disguises and mannerisms. Therefore, it may be difficult for students to realize they are in a dangerous situation.
ASU police are addressing these concerns by presenting students with fliers detailing campus safety, including residence hall and vehicle safety tips. But ASU Department of Public Safety Commander Jim Hardina says the tips aren't just important because of the Baseline Killer.
"Our stance is that we want students, faculty and staff to be aware of and utilize personal safety precautions, not just when there is heightened awareness because of a particular crime trend," Hardina says.
This year ASU police issued a flier of safety tips for students with tips like don't walk alone at night and be aware of your surroundings, he says. These fliers will be available outside the Memorial Union this week.
Hardina says communication between law enforcement agencies is important, and ASU police will keep all four campuses informed on concerns in their areas.
ASU has a number of its own useful resources to help students stay safe.
For students who are on campus after dark, taking the FLASH shuttle is not an option. That's why Undergraduate Student Government has a nightly safety escort service that picks up students anywhere on campus and takes them to their car or residence hall. The student calls and arranges to be picked up any time until 3 a.m.
But if you do walk at night, there are ways to stay safe.
"Before I left home, my mom told me to always have someone with me," says kinesiology freshman Ariana Smith. "I have to be escorted at all times."
Students should also lock their cars and rooms and keep a close eye on valuables. According to ASU DPS crime statistics, 122 motor vehicle thefts occurred on campus in 2004. Four robberies, 180 burglaries and 1,063 thefts were also reported that year.
But some students living in residence halls are still concerned about their safety.
"It's too easy to gain access to the residence hall," Smith says. "[You can] just follow somebody in."
In case of an emergency, nearly 300 call boxes are located on campus. When students hit the buttons at these stations - identified by blue lights - they are automatically connected to ASU DPS, and an officer is dispatched. If you are running from an attacker, you can activate each call box you pass, and police can track your path.
Despite these resources, some students don't feel safe.
"This year I'd like to see more cops driving around campus," says English sophomore Allison Gonzales. "I only see them driving during the day. That doesn't make me feel safe."
Reach the reporter at sigrobins@gmail.com
| Campus Safety Resources | |
| ASU Department of Public Safety | www.asu.edu/dps |
| Safety Escort Services | 480-965-1515 |
| ASU police department | 480-965-3456 |
| Maricopa County Victim/Witness Program | 602-506-8522 |
| Campus Safety and Compliance Hotline | 1-877-SUN-DEVL |
| (for non-emergency safety concerns on campus) |
