In response to a recent violent sexual assault in the neighborhood south of the Wichita State University campus, WSU hosted an open forum Tuesday, Nov. 18, to discuss campus and neighborhood safety.

Students, faculty and staff, and members of the Wichita community were able to connect with members of the Wichita Police Department (WPD), University Police Department (UPD) and WSU’s Wade Robinson, vice president for Student Affairs, to ask questions, voice concerns and get feedback on authorities’ efforts to improve safety in the area.

Robinson, who moderated the forum, started the meeting by extending his condolences to the victim of the horrific crime and reiterating the importance with which WSU views campus safety.

“There is a magnitude to this issue of sexual violence,” Robinson said. “The safety of the entire WSU campus community is a top priority for me, as well as many others at WSU who work on a daily basis on this topic.”

Robinson also outlined many of the ways in which Wichita State has been, and continues to be, proactive about student, faculty and staff security.

All new students, faculty and staff at Wichita State are encouraged to complete in-person and online training related to sexual violence, Robinson said. The university also has training videos available and communicates that information across campus several times each semester. And the UPD has a safety escort system where a police officer will walk with anyone on campus – day or night (call 978-3450).

Robinson said WSU administrators are prepared to do more.

When asked during the forum if WSU could host ongoing self-defense classes, Robinson immediately agreed that the university would work on making that happen. There has been increased lighting and police patrolling at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex parking lot to help deter crime, and the UPD is looking into that in other areas around campus, as well.

More eyes and ears

UPD Chief Sara Morris, who previously spent 21 years with the WPD, asked that everyone on and around campus do what they can to not only protect themselves, but be aware of what’s happening around them.

Morris asked that people report any suspicious activity to either the University Police Department (978-3450) or the WPD; report any criminal incidences to the UPD or WPD; and help deter crime by not leaving personal items in plain sight.

“Keeping in communication is key,” Morris said, adding if there’s a question as to whether the WPD or UPD has jurisdiction of an area, a phone call to either one will get an immediate response.

The campus community is also encouraged to use the resources available to them.

In addition to the university’s safety web page -- www.wichita.edu/safety -- the WSU website (www.wichita.edu) is a continual source of information. Also, students, faculty and staff receive regular emails from WSU’s Strategic Communications that are filled with campus information. And the university’s official Facebook (@wichita.state) and Twitter (@WichitaState) feeds keep followers up to date on any important news.

Students and student-run organizations are also encouraged to attend Neighborhood Watch meetings, and WSU’s Office of Student Involvement and UPD are always willing to engage with student groups to discuss more ways to improve safety on campus.

Even though the crime didn’t occur on WSU property, it happened in an area that includes WSU students and employees as residents. WSU and the UPD are partnering with WPD to help solve the crime and be responsive to the community’s needs.

And while more can be done, Morris said, statistically Wichita State remains a safe place to be.

“Campus safety is our goal. Our campus is a very safe campus,” she said. “I feel very confident saying that.”