Students said despite incidents on or around campus involving theft, vandalism and assault they still, for the most part, feel safe at Boston University.
Cases of sexual assault were reported at Warren Towers in February and earlier in the year at the College of Arts and Sciences in an elevator.
On April 15, BU officials and the Boston Police Department sent out an email informing BU students that they were taking extra precautions after receiving reports about a number of assaults and robberies in the area just beyond West Campus.
Although Boston is a safe city, said BU spokesman Colin Riley, there have been several incidents involving students and assault cases.
“Most of the time I feel pretty safe on campus, mainly because it’s right along Commonwealth Ave., which is really busy at pretty much all hours of the night,” said College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Sarah Vencloski.
However, Vencloski thinks there are some areas of campus that could be made safer for students.
“I think that the street lighting on Comm. Ave. in some parts could be a bit better,” she said.
“I also feel a bit nervous about having the fire escape right outside my window on Bay State Road. It just bugs me that like a random hobo could possibly climb up the escape and chill outside my window.”
Others agree with Vencloski that they don’t feel threatened in the BU area.
“I feel very safe on campus,” said CAS freshman Lester Ang.
Ang said BU Shuttle hours could be extended, but there is “adequate lighting and plenty of cops patrolling” so he doesn’t feel at risk.
CAS junior Phil Silberman said he feels no less safe this year than he has in recent years.
“I’ve never felt that campus security has been a ridiculously huge issue,” he said. “I mean, clearly it’s important to have a safe campus, but I wonder about what kind of improvements would be most beneficial to the community.”
Silberman listed the escort security service and the BUS as examples of important safety services.
However, he said he believes improvements could be made to better accommodate students.
“It’s good that the [BUS] runs late, so that people get home safely at late hours, but it could probably be extended to cover more ground,” he said. “I mean like, maybe it should go to Myles [Standish Hall] and maybe Harvard Avenue. I think it is fine West Campus-wise, but I wonder if some East Campus-ers feel cut off.”
Alexa Whiting, a CAS freshman, said she generally feels safe, especially when with others.
“At night I feel pretty safe on Comm. Ave. and areas that are well-lit and where there are a good number of other people around,” she said. “When it’s dark I feel a little sketched out around the BU bridge, and some areas of West Campus, but overall I feel pretty safe at BU.”
Staff Writer Jacqueline Lacy contributed to the reporting of this article.
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