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Students nervous, upset about off-campus security

by Lauren Viera

Two off-campus assaults last week have made Oberlin students more aware of off campus security and safety measures. The incidents, which Oberlin Police Captain Tom Miller said are probably unrelated, occurred behind the Oberlin Inn and near the Feve within four days of each other.

Miller said the occurrence of two assaults this far into the semester is not unusual. "It's happened in the past," he said, "but two incidents in one week tends to magnify the problem." Miller felt that more attention than usual was being drawn to the issue because of the brief time period in question. "It has made us more aware of the problem," he said.

However, concern for students' safety has raised issues as to whether Oberlin security is tight enough. "I think it was just chance," Miller said of the two incidents. "Alcohol was involved in both situations, which may have had something to do with it."

Whether or not the students involved in the assaults were drinking, safety in Oberlin is still an issue for many students. College senior Elizabeth Seubert, who lives off campus, said, "You think that Oberlin can be so safe and sheltered, but you should also realize that you can be vulnerable." Seubert said that she does not walk alone at night as a rule, but feels generally safe when with a group of others. Though campus security has urged students to travel in groups, each of the incidents reported last week involved groups of students rather than individuals.

The issue of properly inform students of assaults also concerned some students. Director of Safety and Security Keith James said last week he didn't issue an all-campus mailing because he "wouldn't want to create a panic situation." However, some uninformed students were not pleased with being left out of the loop.

College junior Joanna Morse, who lives off campus, was not aware of last week's assaults. "I definitely think people should be aware of stuff like this," she said.

First-year graduate student Carmen Mak also lives off campus and was also unaware of the incidents. When questioned whether she felt safe at night in downtown Oberlin, Mak said, "Yes. That's why I was so surprised that this happened." She said that increased security, as well as informative campus mailings, would be a good idea

While campus security has encouraged students to continue to use common sense and not walk alone in dark alleys, Miller said no drastic safety precautions are necessary. "I wouldn't be overly concerned [about safety in downtown Oberlin]. It's not like the assault victims are intentionally college students." He said that the Oberlin patrolmen are aware of the reported events and patrol areas with high pedestrian traffic on a regular basis.

General actions have been taken to increase safety within the campus recently. A security shuttle service went into effect two weeks ago and several additional blue-light campus phones were recently installed. "The college community is showing concern," said Miller of the recent security measures, "and I applaud them for doing so."


Related Story:

Students assaulted near Feve and Oberlin Inn
- February 21,1997

Oberlin

Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 16; February 28, 1997

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