Greater safety measures, now

This is an open letter to the Administration and students of Wesleyan:

We do not feel safe. Saturday night, six students were assaulted directly outside of our LoRise. It is illogical that Wesleyan was debating whether or not to get rid of the escort service despite the fact that assaults continue to occur. Though we realize that many students do not enter Middletown and that Middletown residents are less often the perpetrators of crimes than are Wesleyan students, our point is that we do not feel safe here regardless. We do not feel any safer on the Wesleyan campus than walking around in Middletown. Now that the Administration has decided to keep the escort service, we worry that it will be portrayed as an affirmation of Wesleyan’s “dedication” to the safety of its students.

However, it is imperative that Wesleyan adopt measures to increase security. For example, more lighting is needed on campus. It seems as though we can’t get from one place to another without passing through at least one unlit stretch. In addition, perhaps a greater increase in walking patrols by public safety would add to a feeling that help is close by in an emergency. Wesleyan needs to educate its students about what to do when faced with a dangerous situation. Perhaps information can be distributed at the beginning.