Jeremy Enlow/Staff Photographer [Click to enlarge]

Brenda Bennett, Denver graduate student, takes classes at night and said she doesn’t feel safe walking in some parts of NT after her class.

“The area from the Music Building to the parking lot needs to be corrected,” she said. “There’s not enough light. They need better lighting.”

Myra Walker of the visual arts faculty said that students tend to lower their guard during certain times of the year when workloads begin to increase.

“It happens during finals a lot,” she said. “We tell the students they need to be out of the building by 11 p.m. for safety’s sake, but a lot of them stay late anyway. Students do things to compromise their own safety like propping doors open and forgetting to close them. We need to be more vigilant in protecting each other.”

Emily Newton, a Denton senior, said she promotes the buddy system even though she thinks NT’s campus is relatively safe.

“It makes you wonder when you hear stories about girls disappearing or being abducted late at night,” she said. “You don’t know whether it’s rumor or if it’s true, so it keeps you on your guard.”

Brian Langford, Howe, Texas senior, said that it is always a good idea to walk in pairs.

“It’s especially [important] around the crosswalks at intersections,” he said.

“People drive like maniacs around here at night.”

Many authorities agree that being aware of your surroundings is an important aspect of staying safe.

“Safety is a mindset,” said Ona Tolliver, director of NT’s Women’s Center.

Tolliver leads Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), a program offered by the NT Women’s Center. The class emphasizes risk reduction by teaching students how to be smart by avoiding situations that could be dangerous.

“The class teaches dependency on the self,” Tolliver said. “Women come to rely too much on pepper spray and stun guns.”

Some students feel that the campus is relatively secure place and say they do not feel threatened.

“The dorms are very secure,” said Mita Blackwell, a front desk clerk at Crumley Hall. “After a certain hour, the doors lock and you need a key to get in.”

Chris Burrowes, Dallas senior, said that safety was more of an issue for women than men.

“People don’t want the same things from men that they want from women,” he said. “As far as robbery goes, I can’t imagine it happening here. After all, this is a college campus. If I were a thief, I would go someplace I knew people actually had money.”

The university reported that between April 1 and Dec. 31 of 2000, there were 530 arrest, 436 that went to county law enforcement and 94 that went to city. Of those arrests, 128 were thefts that occured on-and-off campus.

There were five forcible sex offenses, four of which occured in the dorms and involved acquaintances. There were four instances of aggravated assault, including two in the dorms; in addition, 27 of the 68 burglaries also took place in campus housing.

“Most of the number of on-and-off campus offenses are alcohol-related instances, either involving [driving under the influence] or [driving while intoxicated],” Sgt. Greg Pickett of the NT police said.

One measure taken to promote security on campus is the placement of 32 emergency phone boxes at strategic locations on campus. When a phone’s receiver is lifted, the location of the call is automatically identified and the caller is connected to the police department.

According to Brad Varcoe, communications network supervisor for the NT police, most of the call boxes’ users are motorists seeking assistance.

“NT police are available to help students that leave their keys in the car or need their cars jumped,” Varcoe said.

But Jessica Terlikowski, co-president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, said a recent incident convinced her that the call box system is inadequate.

“One of our members was chased by an assailant in broad daylight and couldn’t find a call box,” Terlikowski said. “Safety isn’t a top priority here. I know many instances where students have called for escort service but it never shows up.”

Varcoe explained that when students phone for a campus escort, they shouldn’t be dismayed that no one arrives immediately.

“The student might have to wait a few extra minutes if the security officer being contacted to pick someone up is doing something like locking up a building,” said Varcoe. “But it doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them.”

Lt. Jim Coffey said the NT Police Department is going through a transitional phase, moving to a bigger facility to accommodate a projected increase in the number of staff members. After the move, the area will be surveyed to find places where more call boxes will be needed, he said.

“The NT police is working to accommodate the increase in student population,” he said. “We’re doing our best.”

Additional Campus Security information

Security escort services are available during the evening/night hours (after dark), but is limited to on-campus locations. Call (940) 565-3000 or use an emergency phone to request an escort.

Emergency phones are located throughout the campus and are marked on all parking maps. Individuals with hearing impairments should dial (800) RELAY TX.

Anyone with information on criminal activity can call Crime Stoppers at (940) 369-TIPS (8477) and will receive a cash award if the tip leads to the arrest and indictment of the criminal offender.

Crime Prevention Programs

Operation ID

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) - self defense training for women only

Acquaintance Rape

Safety and Security in the Workplace

UNT's Assault on Crime

Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking

Programs and brochures on these and other topics are available at all police community offices.

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