Wright State has received a grant in the third round of their Campus Security Safety project to allow students to pitch their ideas on what can be approved with safety around campus.
The idea behind this grant is to increase safety and address concerns students may have. Later this month, instructions will be given to student organizations and leaders on how they can create proposals to submit for review.
The decisions for what to give the money to will be up to the Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Dean of Students and the Student Government Association (SGA).
Eric Corbitt, the Dean of Students, discussed the specifics of what the purpose of the grant money is and what the proposals should be about.
“Students will have the opportunity to identify safety priorities and propose programs, training, equipment or other initiatives that contribute to a safer and more welcoming campus environment,” Corbitt said.
Campus safety extends beyond the Wright State University Police Department (WSUPD) with many other resources for students. This includes an emergency preparedness program which conducts exercises and training across campus to prepare for any emergency students may face. They collaborate with both organizations at WSU and resources outside the school.
In addition to this, Public Safety also addresses parking for both students and visitors, and a service center for all questions and concerns students might have, both in the case of emergencies and for situations outside of that. They handle work requests and record requests, as well as having a campus-wide lost and found. The WSUPD also has a 24/7 line for students to call with emergencies through the service center.
“As a university and a community, we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment,” the Public Safety mission statement reads.
Students receive emails about criminal activity taking place around campus, along with Crime Logs being written each week. The largest numbers of crime each week tend to be car break ins, whether they take place at one of the academic building or, more often, in campus housing parking lots.
In addition to this, there have been complaints from students about the lack of security cameras around campus, specifically in the tunnels. WSU has a tunnel system that connects all the buildings which students can use to get around campus during the winter and in poor weather. However, there is not much security and incidents have occurred. This was one of the main topics brought up when WSU filed for the grant on May 18.
"The request covers the purchase of Cisco network switches required to provide network connectivity for newly installed IP security cameras in common areas, including hallways, tunnels, basements, offices, and exterior entry points," the grant request reads.
Students can expect instructions to be released on how to pitch their safety ideas by the end of Sept. and the process will be managed through Engage. Be sure to look out for announcements from Public Safety and SGA to learn how to plan proposals with student organizations and be part of the next wave of safety measures around campus.
