Photo // IUSB housing homepage
By: Evelyn Kowalski
Staff-Writer
On Oct. 12, a shooting occurred at River Crossing Campus Housing. One person, not affiliated with IU, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after an accidental self-inflicted injury. While the police were investigating, they encountered multiple vehicle break-ins in the River Crossing parking lots.
In light of this, do students living on campus feel safe? We asked you if you think security on campus needs to improve.
Photo // Evelyn Kowalski
Ashley Dyrkacz
“I feel safe,” Ashley Dyrkacz said. “Honestly, things like this happen all over the country. You can’t prevent these things from happening; it’s just making sure you do the right things at the right time, just trusting your instincts.”
Photo // Evelyn Kowalski
Valentine Lugo
“I personally still feel safe, but it’s probably because of the key cards,” said Valentine Lugo, noting that the CrimsonCard scanning system prevents people from entering the dorms without permission.
Multiple students say they still feel safe living at River Crossing housing. While making housing or the entire campus private – closed to people not affiliated with IU or invited to the campus – could theoretically prevent future incidents, students say they would prefer to keep the campus public because they enjoy seeing people walking or playing with their dogs and enjoying the space as a community.
Photo // Evelyn Kowalski
Emerie Commisso
“The reason why they are an open campus, I assume, is to be more open to the community and building community,” Emerie Commisso said. “Closing that down kind of shut down that drive of what we are going for.”
Photo // Evelyn Kowalski
Brodyn McKeehan
“I’ve seen people here enjoying walking around and having a good time, but I feel that turning into a private campus won’t really resolve any crime,” Brodyn McKeehan said.
Scott Strittmatter, director of housing, listed a few ways students can contribute to a safer environment on campus.
“Our campus dedicates extensive resources to ensure the safety of our community, including the efforts of IUPD, UITS maintaining cyber security, and physical infrastructure,” he said in a statement. “This commitment involves collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, IU campuses, and within our own community. It’s crucial for everyone in the community to contribute to this effort by being aware of their surroundings, reporting unusual behavior, and notifying the University about facility issues.”
He recommended that students use One.IU to set up IU Notify, the campus emergency communication system, and that they download RAVE Guardian, a safety app that allows students to contact IUPD.
Check out the tips below for staying safe on campus:
Avoid walking alone at night (call IUPD for an escort if desired)
Pay attention to residence hall visitors and don’t let in strangers
Have a plan when going out and tell others where you are going
Be aware of available of campus safety services
Report suspicious activity
And some tips for preventing car break-ins:
Always lock doors and roll up windows
Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle or ensure they are not visible from outside the car
Park close to your destination and in a well-lit area