Newspaper Page Text
Clark Atlanta University Panther
December 4, 1990
Page 5
'Parents "Express "Concern Over Students 1 Safety
By SETH D. COLEMAN
Contributing Writer
Parents of Clark Atlanta
University students have many
concerns when it comes to their
youngsters.
‘Is my child eating prop
erly?,’ is my child studying?,’
‘Does my child have enough
money?’
Now, the murder of 19-year-
old CAU freshman Duane
Goodman has given parents
somt'hing else to worry about...
is my child safe?’
Dr. Morris Rose, a professor
at the University of Missouri in
St. Louis, has studied the issue
of crime on college campuses
grom simple vandallism to date
rape. He has also studied its
affects on students, instructors,
and parents.
‘Parents tend to react in one
of three different ways when a
violent crime occurs at the
institution they have sent their
child to,’ said Dr. Rose.
‘One reaction is, ‘I’m worried
about my child, but I know
he-she is capable of making
resopnsible decisions when it
comes to safety,’ ” he said.
Dr. Rose continued,
“Another reaction is, “I’m
worried about my child, but
crime is everywhere and there is
no way to try to run from it.’ ”
The third reaction according
to Dr. Rose is one o panic,
which was demonstrated
earlier this year at the
University of Florida when five
students were brutally
murdered.
“The third and most extreme
reaction,” said Dr. Rose, “is
when parents say, ‘I’m worried
sick about my child and I want
he-she to come home.’ ”
Ian Gore, 44, an area
supervisor for Blue Cross-Blue
Shield in Neew York, is the
father of CAU junior account
ing major Tonia Gore.
He is not pleased with the
security situation at the school.
“People intrustr their
children to the school’s security
agency, and they should do a
lot better job,” he said.
Gore does not, however, feel
that his daughter should leave.
“Going somewhere else
wouldn’t solve anything.
Something like that is very
unfortunate but could happen
anywhere,” he said.
Gore not only grieves for
A Police Force A t CAIJ Considered
By PA ULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-in-Chiej
“You all have been giving us lip service for as
long as I can remember! How many more
students must be killed before you hire" some
real policemen?”
These and other accusations were tossed
about the capacity-filled Davage Auditorium as
students confronted President Thomas W. Cole
III and Dr. Larry Earvin, Associate Provost, at a
meeting held after the memorial service for
Duane Goodman.
While the questions ranged from parking to
dining in Crogman Dining Hall, the majority of
the concerns centered around the quality of
security at Clark Atlanta University.
“We need a police force, not these robo-cops,”
said Nnegeste Llike, a senior at Clark Atlanta
University. “We need a police force for the entire
Atlanta University Center,” shouted another
angry student.
Out of 12 Atlanta colleges and universities
interviewed, nine had police forces while the
others employed security officers.
According to Lieutenant Amy C. Lanier, an
officer with the Agnes Scott College Police
Department, having a security force should not
be considered inadequate, but the presence of
policeman with authority and powers tends to
set the minds of parents and students at ease.
“We have been a police department for ten
years,” said Lt. Lanier. “We changed over from
our security company because it was necessary
for us to be able to handle situations without
wasting valuable time contacting other
agencies.”
All of the officers interviewed agreed that the
main advantage of having police officers is that
they have the power of arrest.
According to Edward Medlin, the director of
public safety at Emory University, another
advantage of having police officers is the validity
of the uniform.
“Twenty years ago, the average criminal was
intimidated when faced by any type of uniform,”
said Medlin. “Now, we are dealing with very
high levels of sophistication in criminals, and
that warrants a police presence.”
“I would feel very uncomfortable as a student
relying on security forces because they face so
many limitations,” added Medlin.
Although the consensus was in favor of police,
many policeman contended that security guards
have a certain necessity on college campuses.
“I think that there are two distinct functions
on college campuses,” said Chief W. J. Taylor of
the Atlanta Police Department. “The security
guard is there to stand on campus, watch doors,
escort students and stuff like that. It would be a
waste of time and ability for certified police to
have duties like that. However, the streets in and
around a university need a police presence to
deal with criminal conduct, in that regard, I say a
police force is necessary.”
It’s not as easy as students think when it comes
to changing a security force to a police force or
installing a police force on a college campus
added Chief Taylor.
“There is a question as to. what laws they will
be allowed to enforce,” he pointed out. “There
would need to be an agreement drawn up with
the city of Atlanta that would allow them to
enforce city ordinances, bring defendants into
city courts and allow them to use the reporting
system that is utilized by the city of Atlanta. As
far as a seperate police force for Clark Atlanta
U niversity, one of the hinderances in the past has
been that police adminstrators wanted to see a
unified force in the Atlanta University Center
instead of giving each separate school police
officers.”
Although a police force has obvious
advantages over security forces, Chief Medlin
thinks that with the proper amount of
student-security interaction and cooperation,
the safety needs of students would be met
regardless of the type of force.
The crime reports that run in the Emory
University student newspaper, The Wheel, is an
example of this “positive interaction.”
“It is the most popular feature in the paper,”
said Chief Medlin who has been on Emory’s
police force for seven years. “Students have a lot
more faith in our honesty and it makes them
aware of the hazards on campus.”
At the Georgia Institute of Technology, an
institution located in an urban environment
similar to the one surrounding the Atlanta
University Center, the idea of police and
students working hand in hand is also employed.
“We have quite a few programs that are meant
to make this a safe place,” said Jack Vickery,
director of the police department at Georgia
Tech. “The police patrol is only one aspect of our
services. There is a student safety patrol service
iun by the students and it operates at night.
There is a campus transportation system shuttle
and a network of campus emergency phones.
Our police department also sponsors continuous
educational seminars on crime prevention.”
“The labeling of the forces — security or
police — is not as important as the effort made to
work with the students,” explained Chief
Medlin. “The students need to see them as a
resource and not as the enemy. The students
must have confidence in the force.”
Since the death of Goodman, AUC
administrators and the Atlanta Police
Department have been working on solution
toward effective security “...whether that means
combining the security forces or installing an
AUC police department remains to be seen.”
“Each college is writing their recommendation
and will submit the entire proposal,” said Chief
Taylor. “We expect to have something by
mid-December.”
Goodman and his family, but
for the accused as well.
“I feel so sorry for the young
man (Goodman) and his
family. The kid who shot him
(accused murderer Montavis
Farmer, 17) is so young; he
doesn’t even know what life is
all about yet and he has taken
someone elses.”
Gore does not feel that
campus security is totally to
blame, but that the safety of the
students should be a combined
effort.
“Something should be done
to’get the school, students, as
well as the community involved
Continued On Page 10
Students Change Habits
To Ensure Their Safety
By VANESSA CROCKETT
Contributing Writer
Cheryl Hudson, a 19-year-old sophomore at Clark Atlanta
University, drives everywhere she goes since the killing of a
fellow student three weeks ago.
Hudson, who lives on campus, said she is very frightened and
has seen a change in her lifestyle.
“1 don’t want to lock myself up but I find no reason to go out
late to parties anymore,” said Hudson.
Hudson said she now wears comfortable clothing in case she
has to run and no longer carries large sums of money.
Although Hudson said this crime could have happened
anywhere, she feels students at the Atlanta University Center
are more susceptible to being victims since it is located in a
“high crime area.”
To safeguard themselves, Hudson suggests students travel in
groups of at least three people. They should avoid wearing
jewelry and leather jackets, which muggers want.
Hudson advised students not to assume that administration
is responsible for their safety and protection.
One of the concerns of students is the whereabouts of the
guard who was assigned to a booth near the shooting.
“I can’t say that it’s the fault of the security guard,” said Alan
Bishop, a senior at CAU, “He should’ve had some backup so he
wouldn’t have to do so many things at once.”
The security guard was reportedly patrolling the campus at
the time of the shooting.
Since then, administration has employed more guards to
protect students. However, many students feel that it is not
enough.
Tashia Eskew, who lives on campus in E.L. Simons Courts,
said she has changed mentally but not physically. She is has
always been alert since her apartment was almost burglarized
last spring.
“I’ll continue to use my mace and make use of the escorts
availabe,” said Eskew.
Eskew said there is more concern about safety since the
killing but questions how long it will last.
Officer S.L. Clark of the Atlanta Police mini-precinct
located on Fair Street, said students must do whatever is
necessary to protect themselves.
Officer Clark said that the attitudes of students offend
residents in the area causing them to harm students.
“Students must take heed to their surroundings and realize
that they don’t have the normal setting for a college campus,”
said Officer Clark.
The mini-precinct has extended its hours. They are open
until 12 a.m. on Monday through Thursday and 24 hours on
Friday and Saturday. Officers are also willing to speak to
students and organizations on crime prevention.
Not only are students, faculty and police concerned about
safety in AUC. Local proprietor John Stegall is doing what he
can to help out.
“There have been times when we have escorted students back
to their dorms,” said Stegall, “:Usually females who are afraid
to walk down the street.”
Mr. Stegall said, “There should be an escort on each corner
so muggers won’t feel they have a chance of succeeding.”
“Whatever we (Stegall’s) can do, we will so students won’t be
hurt,” said Stegall, “But students should look into obtaining a
permit for a gun.”
Most students, predominantly females, now carry mace and
have enrolled in self-defense classes while others are not
bothered by the lack or increase in security.
Franchesco Currie, a senior, said students have to be aware
of their surroundings and stop being scared.
“People sense when you are scared and take advantage of it,”
said Currie.
Currie has not taken any new measures of protection but is
willing to escort female students who are afraid.
Administration increased security and held a meeting on
safeguarding students, But still, students feel their “safety is in
their own hands.”