UD and city team up to keep campus safe
UD and city team up to keep campus safe
Student police aides on campus and stepped-up late-night patrols in the city are just two indicators this fall of the priority placed on the safety of members of the UD community, particularly students.
In addition, a new late-night shuttle bus service on Main Street has been instituted and the on-campus escort program has been expanded.
These efforts are geared toward increasing safety in the early hours of the morning, Lawrence O. Thornton, UD's director of public safety, explained.
"Teams of student police aides are patrolling the areas around residence halls on foot from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.," he said. "They are a visible presence, checking perimeters and serving as a resource for students who have questions or need help and acting as a bridge between students and the campus police."
The teams are equipped with two-way radios for instant contact with Public Safety officers in case of emergencies or to report suspicious activity. They are easily recognizable by their reflective vests. Thirty-six student aides have been trained and another 14 will be added this fall. In addition to making the late-night rounds, they may also work unlocking buildings, monitoring events and helping with traffic at football games.
The University's expanded escort service now includes some off-campus locations. The free service is offered daily during hours of darkness for students, faculty, staff and visitors to or from any location on campus and selected areas just off the campus. Designed to enhance the safety and peace of mind of those who must walk after dark, the service uses carefully screened student escorts who can be identified by their blue Public Safety shirts or jackets.
All escorts are equipped with two-way radios for quick dispatch and prompt service. When necessary, riding escorts also can be provided. Complete information on the escort service may be found at [www.udel.edu /PublicSafety/escorts.htm]
Another new service, the free and safe way home program, known as Heels on Wheels, sponsored by the Student Alcohol Use Committee, was instituted this fall. The program provides a late night "Main Street Loop" shuttle bus that began stopping at three locations on Main Street from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5. The bus will stop to pick up students at the Newark Shopping Center, at the intersection of Main and Academy Streets and at Elliott Hall. Students can ride the shuttle bus free of charge.
The University has more than 200 distinctive blue-light emergency phones available 24/7 in outdoor and indoor locations across the campus. Anytime anyone on campus is in need of assistance, he or she can pick a phone and be instantly connected with personnel in Public Safety.
Newark Police Chief Gerald R. Conway Jr. said his department also was well-prepared for the start of a new school year.
"For our part, we will be moving our patrols, looking at areas where crimes have occurred in the past and patrolling area apartments and the routes students take back and forth from the apartments," he said.
BETH THOMAS
