Students participate in campus safety walk

Students venture across campus during the November campus safety walk.
Students venture across campus during the November campus safety walk.

Dozens of Radford University students, representing a range of clubs and organizations, participated in the Nov. 6 campus safety walk.

Organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the evening walk drew more than 40 participants who split into two groups to comb the “light side,” or west side of campus, and the Lot Z resident student parking area behind the Dedmon Center. Representatives from the Radford City and University Police departments, as well as facilities management, also assisted.

During the hour-long stroll, students brought attention to blown street lights and areas that could use additional lighting, crosswalks and signage. Others suggested the need for more outdoor emergency phones, which are the blue-lit stations across campus linked directly to the university police department.

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Trageser joined the group who assessed Lot Z. She said she was proud of the many students who participated in the event, one of the most well-attended safety walks in years. The SGA has organized a safety walk every semester since 2014.

“I think it’s great for such a diverse group of students to be able to share their different perspectives,” Trageser said.

That perspective is essential as thousands of Radford University students travel back and forth across campus and surrounding areas each day.

“You students see things and hear things that we [university administrators] may not,” Trageser said.

Trageser also reminded students of the LiveSafe app, safety escort services, police patrols and other safety initiatives. All of these measures make the student experience more enjoyable, she said.

Safety walks are held on college campuses nationwide to allow participants an opportunity to examine potential safety issues and provide input on future safety initiatives. Past Radford University walks have resulted in better lighting on the “dark side,” or east side of campus, and blinking crosswalk signs.

“These walks bring Radford students together with university police, city police, facilities and the emergency preparedness team,” said SGA President Julianna Stanley. “Our campus is safe, however, there is always room for improvement.”

After the walk, students gathered in the Hurlburt Student Center for a round-table discussion with university and city police representatives.

Participants of the fall 2017 campus safety walk

Participants of the fall 2017 campus safety walk

Nov 9, 2017
Mary Hardbarger
(540) 831-5150
mhardbarger@radford.edu