Several of the unsolved murders of women in the Baton Rouge area have students looking for leadership and guidance from their campus leaders, particularly those in Student Government.
“I’m not aware of what SG does at all,” said architecture sophomore Ishita Sharma. “I’m not sure what they have the power to do. They could push the University to do something about lighting up the area.”
Both zoology graduate student Andrea Huval and psychology sophomore Brandon Romero said they have not noticed SG taking an active role in helping to raise awareness and ensure campus safety.
SG President Darrell Broussard responded by saying safety has been a big priority among all SG members this year.
“Is there more we can do?” Broussard said. “Always. But we feel we have done a better job of getting out there and educating students about this than we’ve done in the past for other issues.”
Broussard listed #LSU, a service that connects someone in the campus area on their cell phone directly to the LSU Police Department, as one of SG’s efforts to help make the campus safe. By lobbying cellular service providers last year, SG was available to provide this service to students.
Broussard also said SG convinced the Campus Transit system to increase its nightly hours by one hour during the week and on the weekends this year. Broussard is in discussions to increase the number of emergency call boxes on campus and position a blue light on each box so they will be visible from far away.
Monique, SG safety director who did not want her last name printed because of safety concerns, said SG’s role in campus safety is not to provide protection but to raise awareness and show students there is a need to take precautions. SG also should provide them with direction and resources.
Monique said several SG members and University Relations representatives tabled in Free Speech Alley last week to hand out keychains and cell phone stickers, but they did not have a very good response from students. SG plans to continue efforts to educate students on the Stay Safe campaign and other measures they can take to stay safe.
Broussard met with Chancellor Mark Emmert and other campus administrators Tuesday to discuss the pressing need for the University to be a safe place.
While the University has sponsored several meetings, seminars and self-defense training classes this year, Broussard said the group of leaders discussed how to better educate participants.
Students, Broussard and Monique agreed safety should continue to be an important campus issue.
Students said they would like to see safety as an important issue in the upcoming SG elections.
“It would make people more aware and probably get more ideas on what to do and what to change,” Romero said.