A recent set of incidents on campus have inspired “The Xavierite” to question the safety of St. Xavier’s campus.
Last week it was reported that a robbery/mugging was attempted near the school of the nursing wing of the Warde Academic Center.
The assailant was classified as a 30 year-old white male. He was reported as being approximately six feet in height.
The young woman who reported the incident was thrown up against her car in an apparent attempt to steal her backpack. Luckily, the girl was able to knee the assailant and was able to get away.
“The Xavierite” was also struck close to home when an unidentified male came into our headquarters and took a cellphone. Also, luckily, the phone was recovered.
Apartments off campus were also pelted with a BB gun. In an email sent to students and faculty, regarding the first mentioned incident, certain tips were mentioned by Public Safety for students to keep in mind for maximum safety.
These tips include: “Awareness of your surroundings is a critical key to crime prevention. Avoid unlit areas, travel in groups when possible, don’t wear headphones or become engrossed in your telephone or electronic devices. Please immediately report suspicious activity or persons to the Public Safety Department.”
These are great suggestions. But we at “The Xavierite” would perhaps like to stress a tip that is not dissimilar to one of the previous suggestions made.
There is definite strength in numbers. We are a community here at Saint Xavier University; we should be inclined to look out for one another, which is why we would first like to stress that if you know anything about the incidents mentioned before please contact Public Safety and tell them all you know.
But the best way to fight off those who would wish to do us harm is by being vigilant at every turn and having constant awareness of our surroundings.
This is not an endorsement of paranoia. In the immortal words of Edward R. Murrow: “We shall not walk in fear, one of another.” But there are those whose interests are not inclined towards the nature of mankind’s better half, and we must remember to be mindful of those in our surroundings and improve our environment in both a moral sense, but also a physical one.
Students should be mindful to stay in well-lit areas, but there are places on campus where well-lit is not the realistic condition.
This is to say, that around the area of the nursing wing, it could be lighter. Portable security lights can be set up; they are a cheap and easy way to ensure the safety of students.
Another concern that “The Xavierite” staff has in regard to safety is the amount of non-students and non-faculty allowed into the school, be it for the use of our library or cafeteria.
The service that this school provides to the community by making its library and food service available is admirable. But there has to be some way to check who is entering into the school, signing or swiping in perhaps.
The dorms of SXU are all protected by the necessity of swiping in, why not apply the same concept to the building that receives the most traffic from those who are not members of the St. Xavier student body or staff?
Certain schools make an effort to supply students with items like rape whistles or pepper spray.
“The Xavierite” is not insisting that the school should make a conscious effort to supply and (perhaps unnecessarily) scare students with rape whistles and pepper spray, but these items should be made available for students who want the extra protection for themselves. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be safe.
At the end of the day, Chief of Public Safety Jack Touhy put it best saying, “we don’t live in a bubble.” There will always be risks, and 100% safety can never be guaranteed. To some extent, each individual must take responsibility for his or her own safety.”
To ensure the maximum safety, St. Xavier University students must be vigilant of their surroundings, be mindful of those who come into their environment, and perhaps the school should be encouraged to supply students who do not feel safe with means to make themselves feel safe.
The Xavierite Staff