Crime Does Exist, So Be Aware!
Crime plays a major role at every campus across America. Depending on the level of criminal activity, students may sometimes feel unsafe while attending classes. Crime may even be the difference between enrolling in a particular college.
Most crimes do not occur on campus property – they stem from the surrounding areas around campus called “CUF” or Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview. Due to the high crime rate in Cincinnati OH, criminals flock to CUF locations in order to target students for a various list of crimes. Crimes include robbery, theft, aggravated assaults, auto theft and more. Cincinnati police have even teamed up with UC police in order to deter crime. “We’re working with Cincinnati Police District 5 to put more police presence in the community,” UC Police Chief Michael Cureton said. Currently, a UC police officer is accompanied alongside a Cincinnati police officer while on patrol.
(University of Cincinnati campus police.)
University of Cincinnati has integrated an emergency system to notify students of possible criminal threats. Emergency Alert System (EAS) was designed to alert students of situations involving an immediate threat to campus safety. The EAS system uses a combination of methods to communicate with students including; public address speakers in buildings, phone messaging, email messaging and web-page notification. Alarm systems are also set up in buildings across campus to audibly notify students of a direct threat.
The most recent use of the EAS system occurred in November, 2012. Brandon Tyler-Tharp, 28 was shot and killed across from UC campus. UC officials immediately put the school on lockdown, and students were notified through EAS to stay indoors. “My roommates told me that our dorm was on lockdown, so I couldn’t come back for a while, so I stayed over with my friends on the other side of town,” said student Emily Kester. Campus and Cincinnati police were stationed outside various locations around campus to ensure the safety of students.
In 2011, combining FBI data and various reports, CQ Press rated Cincinnati the 16th most dangerous city in America. Even though the crime wave has dramatically declined since 2011, students must be aware that the criminal element does exist. Being informed of your surroundings can make you more aware, which can only lead to less victimless crimes. The more you know about criminals, the less of a target you may become.
UCincy 