Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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22. Crime Checkpoint Just how safe is a person these days when he’s in his own backyard? Can he afford to walk outside alone at night or leave his car unguarded? Is he even safe when he is inside his home? In the life of a college student, the campus is the student's home environment and in a sense, his “backyard.” The question now becomes how safe is the college student on campus? On the Western campus, crime is paying off for somebody, even though crime is not supposed to pay at all. Marcus Wallace, director of public safety, said, ‘Thef ts and vandalism are the biggest types of crime occurring on campus.” He said the kinds of things being stolen are “purses, billfolds, stereos and just about any kind of personal property.” Statistics quoted by Wallace, however, showed a gen- eral decrease in theft. Figures for a period from September 1973 through January 1974 listed 166 larceny complaints as com- pared with 135 over the same time period in 1974-75. The same set of statistics show- ed an increase in both vandalism and prop- erty damage in the later time period. Vandalisms totaled 19, seven more than in the previous year, and there were three cases of property damage. Wallace mentioned other types of report- ed crimes that occur on campus. He said, “There are rarely personal assaults, but occasionally they do happen.” Again, statis- tics showed an increase of 14 assaults over the nine occurring last year. Possibly in connection with the increase in assaults, security measures were taken in January to permanently lock the side doors of the women’s residence halls. In an inter- view for the College Heights Herald on Jan- uary 24, Charles Keown, dean of student affairs, said the University was trying to “prevent problems other campuses. were having.’ Keown remarked that some of the dormitories had problems with non-students getting in the halls. He added, ‘The girls are vulnerable, very vulnerable, to people walking in.” Wallace also said indecent exposure is not happening in great quantities, but it is happening. There were four incidents of indecent exposure in the 1974-75 school year. An incident such as this happened to Marlene Marks one day in the fall semester as she was walking to her dorm along Nor- mal Drive. Miss Marks said she was ap- proached by a man sitting in a car. The Bardstown sophomore said, ‘| was shocked at first and | could not think about anything except getting away.” Miss Marks said when she got to her

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summer session. Aside from the rent increase, most of the renovations and changes in dormitory policy were favored by students. Renovation was definitely supported by the majority. Sue Dillman, an elementary education major from Ellettsville, Ind., referred to her dormitory as a home away from home. She said she decorated her room to her own satisfaction. Miss Dillman said her only complaint about the dormitory was the terrible lighting. “There isn't any overhead lighting,” said Miss Dillman. She said the room lights were a hindrance when studying. Sondra Weedman, a Louisville sopho- more, likes the convenience of dormitory life. She said, “It’s close to classes and you have the opportunity to meet people.’ Miss Weedman said she enjoyed having a kitchen but was upset about the stealing that goes on. Allan Van Meter, a Barnes-Campbell floor counselor, admitted he was a little pre- judiced. “I’m biased,” said Van Meter, “but | think mandatory campus residence for freshmen and sophomores is good.” He said it helps students get into the main- stream of college life and find out what's happening. In answer to complaints about noise, he said, “You learn to bear with noise and to do something about it.” One student who might have been ex- pected to have some reservations about dormitory life is Jane Dickerson. A senior elementary education major, Mrs. Dickerson leaves her family in Madisonville and stays in the dormitory Monday through Friday. She said she does this because commuting 200 miles round trip is a bit more trouble than walking from Bemis Lawrence to the College of Education Building. Mrs. Dickerson described life in a dor- mitory as a convenience. ‘Everything | need is right here,’ she said. Mrs. Dickerson added that she has no problem communicating with students because of age difference. ‘If | ever get lonely, | can always find someone to talk to,” she explained. Off-campus housing also has its sup- porters. Byers, who said he thought students should live on campus for at least a year, is an off-campus student himself. Once a resi- dent of Bemis Lawrence, he said, “It is much more desirable to live off campus if you can afford it.” He said he finds more privacy and space with fewer parking problems off campus. “Once | got off campus and saw all the advantages, | don’t think | could go back and face four tiny walls again,” said Byers. Dennis Boyd, a junior from Danville, also lives off campus and likes it. “In the first place,’ said Boyd, ‘‘there are no false fire alarms at 6 a.m. off campus.” He said he liked the freedom of living in an apartment and also the additional space. “In a dor- mitory, your bed has to serve as a couch, a study hall and a bed.” said Boyd. Whatever the choice of residence, stu- dents generally admit that there are ad- vantages and disadvantages to both on campus and off campus housing. Residence halls have the main advantage of convenience, yet despite the improve- ments made in dormitories, many juniors and seniors will continue to live off campus. According to Byers, “You need both living experiences.” Wall-to-wall carpeting and modern furniture do not usually fit the college student's tight budget. There are other ways, however, to find luxurious housing. Having an uncle who is on sabbatical leave in Australia gives Nancy Nation a chance to move into his empty home. Greg Barnard, Miss Nation and Pat Price study together in the Logan Street house. With only six open houses each semester, dorm dwellers often have small parties in visitation hours. Susan Lacy, Graham Hudspeth, Anne Grayson and Bill Lloyd snack on sandwiches and chips. Zl Housing

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Christmas break. The set had arrived at the men’s dormitory just a few days before the Christmas vacation started. According to the statistics Wallace quoted, there was an increase in traffic ac- ) cidents from 25 to 45. There were 64 hos- pital runs this year compared with 31 in the 1973-74 period. Wallace cited a drastic decrease in arson and fire alarms from 36 last year to five this year. There were two b threats this year compared to 14 in last school year. Drug cases increased from two to three. Miscellaneous | ased from 18 to 33. a la on camp were abou end. He said si the Operation Ide have been only thre participating in Opera student can get his bicyé other personal items engra Hi and social security number. | Marian Klaes, a student i Ind., said she had her bicyc | Christmas vacation. “I had it Id a combination lock, but it did identification engraving,” she s H not file a complaint with Secu | she did not think her bicycle stealing. : Wallace mentioned that there | of the year that are more prone {) than others. He cited the times holidays and spring break becau are wanting to get money to He said the Security Office print | tributed posters before Christma | students to keep their doors locke Illustrating this holiday crim new television set was stolen fr Campbell residence hall sometim ‘one of the most did to prevent naked,” she said. “I just stood there with my mouth hanging open.” She added that Security personnel had her fill out some forms, and that was it. Two weeks later, signs were put up in the structure saying ‘Not Responsible.’ ” Terry Shaw, a freshman from Caneyville, is one of those people affected by crime on campus. He discovered his 1958 Chevrolet station wagon was missing from Douglas Keen parking lot on the morning of January 16. Shaw said he knew at once that it had been stolen and called Security. Shaw's car was found later that day at the end of the same parking lot, close to the railroad tracks. He said nothing was actually stolen, but the window on the driver's side was broken and the driver's door and right rear fender were dented. Wallace mentioned that most people do not realize that the issuance of parking stickers is another big method of crime pre- vention. He said, “If cars have stickers, we know they belong here and have legitimate business on campus. If they do not, we have no idea what they are up to.” Wallace cited figures showing that 2,962 unregistered cars were on campus in the fall semester, receiving an average of 1.5 cita- tions apiece. Wallace said, “We do not worry about the cars that are here one or two times per semester, because there are a lot of parents bringing their children back to school. We do worry, however, about the cars that are here more than four times.” A total of 137 cars were on campus in the fall semester more than four times, accord- ing to statistics. “If we knew what some of those cars were up to, we might find the source of some of our crimes,’ said Wallace. Wallace said the ultimate goal of the Se- curity Office is “having nothing to do.” Al- : though this goal may be a little too opti- “mistic, the department is doing all it can to cut back on crime. Prevention could be the key to showing people that crime really does -notpay. p= 23 Cri me