November 20, 2003

University creates special task force on campus security

The University has created a special emergency task force made up of University Police, Student Affairs and Facilities Management to deal with the recent robberies and assaults on and off campus, President Henry S. Bienen announced last week.

In a message Friday to students, faculty and staff, he said, “These robberies and assaults on our students near and on the Evanston campus are a matter of most urgent concern. One of our top priorities has always been the safety of our students, faculty and staff.

“Historically, the Evanston campus and the nearby neighborhood have not presented a substantial crime risk. These incidents change that. We are all concerned, and understandably so.”

Bienen’s message followed the most recent attack in which two female undergraduates were robbed off campus near Foster and Sherman by four hooded men, one of whom showed a handgun. It was the seventh reported robbery or assault against a Northwestern student since Sept. 27.

Bienen said that the Univer-sity had already taken numerous actions in response to the incidents, in which students have been robbed but not physically harmed, including:

• Hiring private security officers to assist University Police in patrolling the campus at night on foot and in golf carts to provide a highly visible security presence.

• Increasing University Police patrols at night on campus and off-campus in areas where the robberies have occurred. University Police are now working increased overtime shifts, with the emphasis on nighttime patrols.

• Establishing a task force of University Police officers and detectives to work specifically on these attacks. The Evanston Police Department has established a similar task force and the two agencies are cooperating on the investigation. Because most of these robberies have occurred off-campus, the Evanston Police Department is the lead agency and Northwest-ern is assisting in the investigation. The Evanston Police Department has notified the University of a substantially increased commitment of resources, beginning this weekend, in the areas where the robberies have occurred.

• Increasing the hours of the shuttle bus service on campus.

• Increasing service on the escort service, which provides free rides at night for students. The University has added vans with private security officers as drivers to increase the availability of this service.

The University last week conducted a safety walk with student leaders from the Women’s Coalition and Associated Student Government.

As the result of that and a University analysis, recent major improvements in lighting will be expanded to areas near residence halls and other locations, such as on the east side of Sheridan Road between the Arch and the Jacobs Center. Northwestern has also requested that the City of Evanston accelerate its efforts to improve lighting in the neighborhoods near campus by installing bulbs that provide better illumination.

Other measures include:

• Using off-duty police officers to supplement University Police and to cover special events, such as basketball games. This will provide greater flexibility in deploying University police.

• Installing additional emergency phones on campus.

Bienen said the University will continue to examine other measures and provide resources to address this problem. “There are no budgetary constraints for a matter of such importance,” he stated.