About 20 members of the Boston University community, including administrators and Student Union members, walked around campus last night to point out unsafe and problematic areas during the biannual Safety Walk.
The event, organized by the Union’s Residence Life Committee, began at 6:30 p.m. at 1019 Commonwealth Ave. and covered BU’s campus as far as the Charlesgate Bridge near Danielsen Hall, ending around 9 p.m. at the George Sherman Union.
The walk identified 23 specific locations across campus with various problems, such as the lack of emergency blue light phones or drainage issues.
Vice President of Residence Life Mike Myers walked around campus with Safety Walk organizer and Residence Life Committee member Vivian Nouman and other Union members before Wednesday night’s walk to compile a list of problems to be addressed.
‘We devised a route and tested every blue light that we saw,’ Myers said.
Myers and Nouman led the group around campus, pointing out concerns to administrators and asking BU Police Department Sgt. Jack St. Hilaire what areas have had a significant amount of crime. Buildings ‘ Grounds Manager of Electrical Services Richard Eaton took note of each location needing new light bulbs or electric work.
BUPD officer Peter Shin addressed the problem of stolen bicycles and the effectiveness of bike racks after Myers asked about the security of bikes in front of Towers.
‘People need to get better locks for their $1,000 bikes,’ Shin said. ‘There is more of an issue on how to lock your bike and making sure you register it than just getting another security camera.’
Shin also suggested putting up signs as a deterrent to bicycle thefts and added that all issues with security cameras have already been resolved at campus residences.
Other issues Myers and Nouman brought up included overflowing dumpsters on South Campus and dark alleys that should be closed off.
Although Nouman asked about improving pedestrian safety on University Road by adding a stop sign for cars coming off of Storrow Drive, St. Hilaire and Shin said the city has turned down most proposed solutions in the past.
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore, Director of Judicial Services Daryl Deluca and Assistant Director of Residence Life Denise Burford also went on the walk.
Myers said he wants to organize another walk next spring involving City Council members, which they have unsuccessfully tried to do in the past.
Elmore said the walk was a great idea and he hopes to continue the program.
‘Someone asked me today whether we should do these more often, and I said ‘Absolutely, let’s keep doing them,” Elmore said.
Nouman said she was pleased with the walk’s outcome and its impact.
‘It was a great way to bring up safety issues with people like Dean Elmore and B’G because they are people that are normally hard to get in contact with,’ Nouman said.
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