The Associated Students of Madison hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday for city officials, police and any interested students to collaborate on ways to improve campus safety.
The meeting gave attendees an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed increase in cameras downtown, as well as current campus resources, such as SAFEwalk and UW Police Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said a new city initiative to spend $100,000 to double the amount of cameras downtown, specifically in areas near Langdon Street and behind the Capitol, will help identify suspects involved in criminal activities.
“The tragic May 19 shooting was a perfect example of the effectiveness of the cameras because it allowed the suspect to be known and charged and arrested,” Verveer said, referring to a shooting over the summer outside Johnny O’s that injured three people.
Although many students are familiar with SAFEwalk, a late-night campus escort service specifically aimed to increase safety, UWPD Police Officer Michael Eckhardt said police are concerned students aren’t taking full advantage of the opportunity because they’re afraid to ask for the service.
“In terms of utilizing the service, some students do feel it is burdensome,” Eckhardt said.
According to Eckhardt, UWPD has partnered with College Library and the student unions to combat the problem by creating easily accessible SAFEwalk stations within the facilities.
Eckhardt said at these locations, SAFEwalk escorts provide information about the Safe Bus schedule and pamphlets about the SAFEwalk program, in addition to offering a safe walk home.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said UWPD offer a unique connection to students through social media, including their Facebook and Twitter feeds.
“The messaging between the police department and the student body is really the quintessential thing that makes our police department different from other cities,” Resnick said.
According to Resnick, these sites allow students to learn about behaviors and events that trigger police involvement and gauge their choices accordingly.
Although Madison is known for being a relatively safe city, Eckhardt said police still stress the need for students to be vigilant in their surroundings and look out for one another.
“When people have a vested interest in their community, they care about it and want it to succeed,” Eckhardt said.
