As the end of the semester approaches students will be spending an increased amount of time in the library. Recently students have expressed concern regarding safety in University libraries. Most students have probably received at least one recent e-mail regarding alleged suspicious activity by individuals in or near Alderman Library. It is easy for rumors to get started and spread very quickly, especially with e-mail. And while the allegations that were circulating over e-mail may or may not have taken place, there are steps that both students and the University can do to ensure student safety, especially during finals.
The first and most important thing that students can do is to report all suspicious activity. Dean Groves reiterated this message to the University, urging all students that "the [University Police Department] and the Charlottesville Police want you to dial 911 to immediately report any activity that appears threatening or makes you uncomfortable for your safety." No one wants to cause a scene or look foolish for creating a false alarm, but it is truly better for you to report something you think the least bit suspicious than to ignore that voice inside your head and have that somewhat suspicious activity turn into a crime. The police are here to help us and ensure our safety and students should not be afraid to call on them should the need arise. If students aren't sure about a situation and don't feel comfortable calling 911, then they can call the non-emergency police number (434-924-7166). Police cannot rectify suspicious activity if they are unaware it is taking place. I imagine that most suspicious activity goes largely unreported, which can lead to just the kind of confusion generated by the mass e-mails.
The University can also take steps to help ensure student safety. In years past, the libraries have been restricted to members of the University community during finals and there have even been security guards positioned at the entrance to Clemons Library; however, my friends and I have never once been asked to show our student ID to verify that we are in fact associated with the University. We obviously look like students, but anyone can put on an orange hat and act like they are associated with the University. Why not have someone actually checking? This would take everyone all of ten seconds and ensure that only University community members are using the libraries during these high-traffic times.
There is also the suggestion of limiting use of the libraries at night to University students faculty and staff. This already occurs, but only after midnight. Perhaps the University could move up this restriction to 8 or 9 p.m. This is not an unreasonable request considering Charlottesville community members would still have access to facilities up until that time and on the weekends. What is unreasonable, however, is if students feel unsafe in their own library, a place where they should feel safe. This is not to say that everyone in the Charlottesville community is necessarily a threat, and that no one in the University community is, but the fact that anyone can just walk into the library at night is a little unnerving. Particular attention has been placed on the Alderman stacks, which are wonderful in their volumes upon volumes of books, but at the same time can be eerily quiet and deserted. If restricting access to the stacks at night makes students feel safer, then the University should seriously look into this option.
Student safety should be one of the University's top priorities. That being said, students should also take an active role in promoting safety by reporting any suspicious behavior and taking precautions like walking in groups late at night or utilizing services such as Safe Ride. In conjunction with these steps, however, the University must also take action to ensure safety, particularly in the libraries. Requiring proper identification during finals when the libraries are most crowded and restricting access to people associated with the University would help the University provide a safe learning environment for its students.
Megan Stiles' column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at m.stiles@cavalierdaily.com.
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