University administration and the Department of Public Safety are coordinating their efforts to increase safety awareness on campus in response to several burglaries and assaults in the Burleith area.
“We are very concerned about making students aware of safety precautions,” said Jeanne Lord, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Off Campus Affairs.
Lord said the administration will be holding a safety orientation class Aug. 28 specifically for students living off-campus. The class will include safety lectures by representatives from DPS as well as the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to DPS Assistant Director Darryl Harrison, the class will provide students with information that “will make their educational journeys that much safer.” Harrison said the orientation class will include information regarding laptop and bicycle registration as well as walking around campus and keeping valuables safe.
Though both Lord and Harrison said that crime-related incidents in Burleith last year were not more significant than in past years, both said students are now more alert to each incident.
The most recent act of crime in Burleith took place July 19 and involved the assault of a male Georgetown student at the intersection of 38th and T Streets.
According to the DPS Community Alert, four black males approached the student in a a dark blue or black Jeep Cherokee. The subjects exited the car and began punching the student and knocked him to the ground. They then took $30 from his wallet and stole his book bag, which contained his laptop computer and palm pilot. The student was treated for facial injuries at Georgetown University Hospital. No suspects have been charged in the incident.
Lord said that in order to increase safety awareness the administration will begin sending out periodical e-mails to off-campus students regarding any acts of violence. These e-mails, she said, will be in addition to the community alert flyers that are sent to both off-campus students and Georgetown residents, which are drafted by DPS.
Lord also highlighted the close relationship between the University and the MPD.
“We have a great relationship with the police in this area,” Lord said.
Harrison also said that students themselves as well as administrators have helped promote safety awareness on campus.
“Everybody has made a greater effort in getting the word out,” Harrison said.
Lord emphasized the importance of having students take Safe Rides when travelling off-campus. The University-run Safe Rides escort service takes students free of charge to various locations in and around campus at night.
According to Harrison, students should make sure to keep their house and apartment doors locked because any unlocked door makes “the efforts of criminals that much easier.”
