The Department of Public Safety has decided to impose stricter security policies around three University buildings, after five violent crimes were reported by students in the last month.
Occurrences in street crime spiked across Washington, D.C. in September according to Darryl Harrison, Director of DPS. Only one robbery was reported to DPS during the same period last year.
A female student was attacked at the corner of 36th and Prospect Streets and a male student was attacked and robbed at 35th and N. Several thefts have also occurred in the three east campus buildings, Walsh, LXR, and Nevils.
Incidents of crime normally occur in batches, but no specific cause can be connected to the rise in recent incidents, according to David Morrell, Vice President for University Safety. Morell attributed part of the upsurge to increased crime reporting by students. He said that notable success has resulted from the “Call DPS” campaign initiated by DPS in spring 2004, encouraging students to inform DPS of the incidence of crime
Students may now enter the east campus buildings through only two out of the three entrances. The 36th Street Kober entrance will no longer be unlocked. Additional security personnel now patrols the block surrounding the complex and the interior courtyard by foot, according to an Oct. 1 e-mail sent to residents.
Morrell said that the goal of enhancing security is, “to send word to this community of criminals and to students that we are committed to having a safe and secure environment for our students so that they do not have to worry about themselves and their personal property.”
The Burleith neighborhood has also been a target of recent crime. Victoria Otarola (NUR ‘05) was attacked near the corner of 37th and R on the night of July 5 while walking home with one male student and one other female student at 11:30 p.m.
“These students did everything they could do,” Morell said. “They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Phil Marcelo (CAS ‘05) and June Chanyasulkit (CAS ‘05) witnessed two men attack a friend outside his 35th Street home.
“I figured if I called DPS, they would not be able to actually apprehend the perpetrators because it was off-campus,” Marcelo said.
While satisfied with MPD’s response, Marcelo also found the process slow. “Being on the phone with MPD takes forever,” he said.
Morell added that contacting DPS first ensures a quicker police response in the event of a violent incident.
“Students will get a faster response from MPD if they call DPS first because DPS is connected by a direct line to the MPD 2nd District,” he said.
DPS has attempted to achieve greater communication with students through the establishment of the Student Safety Advisory Board in March 2004. SSAB acts as a liaison between students and DPS.
Matthew Singer (SFS ‘07), one of the organization’s founders, was motivated to play an active role to help protect students when he learned that robbers were entering Village A apartments after watching which students did and did not lock their doors.
“These are my classmates, and what’s going on is unacceptable,” Singer said. “I feel that this is an issue that needs to be taken up by the students.”
Singer added that SSAB has led students to adopt a more positive view of the role of DPS.
“They want to make sure things are safe. They are not just there to break up parties,” he said.
