COM2100 – At Wayne State Bad Things Can Happen to Good People Like You

Word Count: 724

 

At Wayne State Bad Things Can Happen to Good People Like You

By: Brittanii Lyons

Wayne State University

Com 2100 November 1, 2017

 

The Wayne State University Police Department works diligently to provide crime prevention programs and resources. The Wayne State police department’s website lists all of its programs, from its most popular Rape Aggression Defense classes to its VIN etching.

            Detroit was ranked the worst city to live in this past July in a study conducted by Wallethub. In September, the FBI declared Detroit to be the most violent city in America. What does this mean for Wayne State students, as their university is located in the heart of Detroit?

According to the crime statistics found on the 2017 Annual Security Fire and Safety Report, alarmingly low numbers of crimes are reported considering the university’s location.  Almost all crimes showed a decrease from 2015 to 2016, except in the cases of drug violations, robberies and burglaries. In 2016 there were 12 reports of robberies of public property, and one burglary of non-campus property. In 2016 Detroit Police Department reported 3060 robberies, and 8569 burglaries.

Despite the numbers of robberies in past years, and Detroit’s tarnished reputation, first year students Andrew Thompson and Slawa Chrin feel safe at Wayne State.

“I’ve noticed that there are a lot of Wayne State Police officers, but I guess there could always be more. Their presence on campus is reassuring for sure,” said Chrin.

Wayne State students see the police presence around campus and generally feel safe, often causing students to ignore the threat that could pertain to them, and how to handle it should it ever happen. Some students still have an ignorance of the extent of crime prevention resources available to them.

Chrin and Thompson, both only know about the emergency blue light call box, and the campuswatch emails, both of which they never use.

Lt. Dave Scott said, “The most beneficial crime prevention program we have is meeting with all of the students at their initial New Student Orientation. There, we give the students an overview of our campus, what our crime problems are, ask them to place our Dispatch number into their phone, sign up for the opt-in Emergency Broadcast messaging system, and answer any questions they may have. After that initial session, the most frequently utilized crime prevention program is our Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program.”

Students Chrin and Thompson both commented that the real threat isn’t on Wayne State’s campus and that the Wayne State Police might could help the local Detroit police crack down on crime.

“Everything really happens outside of campus and the Wayne State Police would probably be of better help outside of campus. The meth labs in the basements of abandoned homes would be a good place to start,” said Thompson.

The campus environment is pretty safe, but that does not come without the hard work of the Wayne State Police Departments Crime Prevention programs. Although students feel safe on campus Scott said that reassurance is often the hardest part of maintaining safety on campus.

“Convincing them (Wayne State students) that bad things can happen to good people, including them, and that they can be targeted by the criminal element and victimized.” Said Scott.

Real threats do happen on campus and can happen to any student. Another first-year student, Emilija Covintree, said that she has already had to file a report with the Wayne State Police.

“I had my wallet stolen. I was at the gym someone took it and a student found it 2 weeks later. All of my cards were inside, but my cash was taken. I filed a complaint, and the police came right away,” said Covintree.

Convintree said that despite her wallet being stolen, she still feels safe and the presence of Wayne State’s Police restores her confidence in the campus.

Scott warns that the most frequently occurring crime at Wayne State University is the crime of Larceny, the theft of unattended property.

Wayne State students and staff can agree that the threat of crime is substantially lower on campus, compared to the threat of crime in the overall city of Detroit, however it is important to stay alert, aware of your surroundings, and become knowledgeable of campus crime prevention programs.

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Sources

 

Emilija Convintree Wayne State student FL0346@wayne.edu

Slawa Chrin Wayne State student FP6266@wayne.edu

Andrew Thompson Wayne State student andrewjt7@gmail.com

Lt. Dave Scott Wayne State Police Department, Crime Prevention dscott@wayne.edu

2017 Annual Security and Fire Safety Repot Wayne State University

DetroitMichigan.gov Reported Crimes through December 31,2016  Sheet.