In the wake of recent events the University has taken several steps to further safety and awareness for students. A few groups on campus also are doing their part to protect campus members and all University students.
“Would you like to wear a target to show solidarity with LSU students and the victims?” asked Mary, an LSU student who asked that her last name not be released for safety reasons. Mary said those words to every female student who passed the Targets table Wednesday in Free Speech Alley.
Targets is a week-old organization that three University women started last Sunday at the rally for Carrie Yoder. The organization passed out targets for women to wear around their neck to show that anyone can be a target.
“We want to make sure women feel safe,” Mary said.
The organization thinks a lot of women on campus have the “not me” attitude. Targets hopes to get across the point that these crimes can happen to anyone, not just women fitting a particular profile.
Targets also will turn in a petition to Chancellor Mark Emmert requesting his presence at a forum. The forum has not set date yet, but the group hopes to discuss new safety features which can be implemented on campus.
The main issue Targets will raise at the forum will be the installation of a “blue light system.” The lights currently are being used at the University of New Orleans and emit a strong blue light when a student presses the button.
Jennifer, another Targets organizer, said the lights offer more protection to students than the current call boxes found throughout campus. More than 150 students already have signed the petition.
Women Organizing Women also is making a big push for women’s protection. WOW is trying to get the Student Health Center to provide testing to rape victims, said WOW co-chair Sara Gore.
Gore said it is important for victims to get tested 72 hours after the rape to provide a DNA sample for possible crime leads.
Providing this service on campus will allow students to be tested at the Health Center instead of paying for it at a local hospital, Gore said.
Some groups are focusing on internal safety.
Adam Miller, Swine Palace director of marketing and public relations, said Swine Palace is encouraging its members to be safe after all rehearsals. They ask females in productions to travel in pairs at night and strongly advise members take notice of the University’s safety promotions.
Kappa Kappa Gamma President Cynthia May said the sorority had Sid Newman from the Serial Killer Task Force visit at the beginning of the semester to talk about safety precautions. The sorority had another speaker show safety defense techniques to new members during the first week of school.
Kappa Kappa Gamma hopes to bring that same speaker back in April to teach all members self- defense techniques, May said
Kelli Webber, a coordinator in the Office of Orientation and Spring Testing, said Ambassadors will speak to prospective students at Spring Testing about safety issues. University Relations will advise them on what to say to the students.
Many organizations on campus stated they only tell members the basics in safety.