The University of Utah is good about campus safety, and it has increased its efforts since Halloween, 2016, when someone reported a rape in broad daylight at gunpoint on campus. The campus is well-lit, there are emergency phones scattered around and the university even has a campus escort system which allows a student to call a number and request an officer to escort them somewhere safely. While the idea behind the escort system is great, my experience using it was one of the worst I’ve had at the U.
I had just finished seeing a play for a class assignment. Though I had called some people to accompany me to the play, I ended up seeing it alone. When the show ended it was well past dark, and the idea of walking back to my parked car started to make me nervous. I decided to call the campus police for an escort, a service provided for situations exactly like the one I was in.
I requested a female escort, but there were none available. I nervously accepted this and was told an officer would arrive within 15 minutes, so I stood outside and waited. One by one the audience and cast members left. An hour later it was cold and dark, nobody was around and I was growing more afraid. With a knife hidden in my jacket and a taser in my purse, I continued to wait. Occasionally I would see a random figure walking across the parking lot and would become instantly paranoid.
When the officer finally showed up, I was mortified. I had been crying, I was shaking and I felt pathetic for having been so scared of what was probably a safe situation. The officer apologized for taking so long and explained he had other people to escort before he could get to me. I apparently looked so shaken up he asked me if something happened while I was waiting. Nothing had, but the urgency of his tone increased my anxiety. It’s possible my fear was completely irrational, but after what happened on Halloween in 2016, I’ve gotten into the habit of anticipating the worst.
I don’t know how many other students have experienced something like this, but there’s an easy fix. The U should hire more well-trained officers. I would much rather have my tuition be spent on security than more construction and athletic uniforms. The U could also make it a rule that all buildings leave doors unlocked until everyone has left the premises in case someone feels like they need a place to go. The U could make the night shuttles more frequent, since a lot can happen in 30 minutes. I’m sure there are other pressing issues that campus administrators are trying to resolve, but campus security and the safety of students should be a top priority.
@TheChrony
Brad Bleak • Mar 1, 2018 at 11:12 am
It’s irresponsbile reporting to talk about the reported rape on Halloween of 2016 without mentioning that it was a false report.
I was shocked to learn that the parking lot in question didn’t have cameras (if we can give the football team all of these emenities we can at least expect to have the campus covered by good lighting & HD quality surveillance cameras!). Some good came of it that cameras & better security are being looked at, I’m not sure if that parking lot where the false report was made does have good cameras now.
Regardless, it’s terrible that someone needs to get an escort to go to their home, I worked at a Community College where I would escort people to their cars at night because it was in a bad neighborhood, these realities of life are terribly depressing to think about.
Regardless, you’re a journalist, it’s the epitome of what journalism has become to not mention that the Halloween ’16 event was a false report.
Please amend your article as a responsible journalist, even for an op-ed piece it comes off as twisting things to the uninformed (everyone that doesn’t know what happened thinks there was a terrible crime committed by your rhetoric).
Other than that, great article & I’m sorry you have to deal with this.
Best regards,
–Brad
Megan Hulse • Mar 2, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Brad,
No knowledge of the rape being falsely reported has come our way. What has been said by campus police is that there was not enough evidence to pursue the search for the perpetrator. That statement did not insinuate that the report was false, only that they were suspending their investigation and search for the perpetrator unless more information came to light. The University frequently refers to the incident as a catalyst for change, so we feel that Ms. Patience’s assessment here is appropriate.
Thank you for your concern,
Megan Hulse
Executive Editor
Derek • Feb 20, 2018 at 10:58 am
The night shuttles increasing frequency is a good idea. Leaving buildings unlocked is a bad idea (gives access to unwanted guests which would then require even MORE posted security = expensive and unnecessary; plus it’s an isolated place to take a victim).
I will say this, if the U can create an app for career fairs then they can create an “I don’t feel safe app” that pins locations and even enables the use of student body to assist with escort efforts no different than vetting and using an uber driver. Thanks for sharing your experience, Alisa, that must be tough. I hope you have a strong support system with someone you can talk with about these kind of feelings.