Miami University Police Department's annual survey of on campus safety again demonstrated students feel safe on campus. There are emergency call boxes and outdoor lighting that make students feel secure. The editorial board of The Miami Student generally agrees that Miami University is well lit and feels secure, but there is room for improvement from both students and the university.
The university is willing to fix lights that burn out and ensure all students feel safe, but they have to know about problems. It is up to students to tell the university areas where lights have burnt out or where they feel unsafe. It is the university's responsibility to fix these problems, but the students' job to inform them.
Most campus crime alerts and assault reports happen at off campus locations during late hours, and the Oxford Police Department and the city can take measures to make students feel safer off campus. Walking home from uptown or the library the streets become dark within just a few blocks from the center of campus or off High Street. Adding additional lights to alleys and blocks further from the higher foot traffic areas can help make students feel safer when walking home.
The city can also examine areas where assaults happen most often and could consider placing call boxes in those locations as both a deterrent to crimes and alternative option in case cell phones aren't in reach or don't have charged batteries.
The editorial board of The Miami Student understands now is a difficult fiscal time for all local governments and that call boxes may not be a possibility. The OPD could also work with student organizations that work to fight rape and assault and distribute whistles to students living both on and off campus to have in case they find themselves in a position of walking home alone.
Everyone wishes they could avoid walking home alone or not having to walk past a block of burnt out streetlights, but this is not realistic. However, students can take action to make the streets off campus safer and themselves more prepared to handle all potentially dangerous situations.
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