Student leaders announced plans Wednesday to begin regular meetings about campus safety issues with a variety of interested parties from within the university and the city as a whole.
In the future the students hope to have an opportunity to meet with Madison Common Council alders, University of Wisconsin police, City of Madison police and the editorial boards of both campus newspapers on a monthly basis to discuss important campus safety concerns through the Associated Students of Madison University Affairs Committee.
According to University Affairs Committee Chair Becca Buell, the meetings are an “exciting step forward” that came out of ASM’s recent campus safety town hall meeting, where students asked questions of a panel of alders and city and campus police officers.
Buell said she collaborated with city Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, in coming up with the idea.
“[Scott Resnick] has reached out, along with Mike Verveer, to make a partnership with ASM to ensure that campus safety will continuously be discussed,” Buell said.
According to Buell, the meetings would continue discussion on issues such as campus lighting and spotty cell phone service in certain areas of campus, as well as the recent controversial ejection policy at Camp Randall.
ASM Press Office Director and University Affairs committee member David Gardner said he thinks it is important for students to be involved in the process of campus safety decisions, rather than being left to ask questions after decisions have already been made.
“We do want to have, which we don't have right now, a more regular way to check in with campus safety stakeholders,” Gardner said.
Gardner said more information about the meetings will be released as additional parties confirm their involvement.
