In response to Friday’s editorial “Unsafe Week” (Sept. 28, p. 6): I believe that many students at this school do not give the administration much credit. With more than 16,000 undergraduates alone, it is a difficult task to keep everyone informed and aware of what’s going on — especially if they aren’t interested in finding out.
The biggest problem at Boston University is not the lack of effort on behalf of the administration, but the overall apathy of students regarding their own safety and well-being. While the administration can keep students up to date on dangerous incidents happening around campus, it is up to us to consider behaviors that are in our own best interest.
At such a large institution, a certain distance between the student body and the administration is inevitable. However, any attempts to decrease that distance usually go unrecognized. Safety Week was the university’s strong attempt to educate students on how to better protect themselves, providing information on alcohol, pedestrian safety, sexual assault, sexual health and wellness. The administration is trying to provide us with the tools necessary to be happy and healthy adults able to function independently in an urban environment. There is only so much that they can do.
As adults living on our own, we need to be responsible for our own actions. There is no point in complaining about the “lack of safety” or “lack of resources” on this campus if we aren’t going to take action. We are paying customers here at BU, and if we want to see change, we need to initiate that change. I encourage all of you to get involved on campus, and to seek out the many resources available to you in the form of student groups, offices and special events.
For those of you concerned and confused about sexual assault and the policies at BU, and who want answers directly from the administrators involved, I invite you to attend a panel discussion concerning the issue on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the George Sherman Union Conference Auditorium. It’s time to take ownership of your own education and welfare.
Carrie Chiusano
Vice President, Every Person Counts
COM ’09
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