2008 Woodie Awards
Student assault sparks issues of dorm safety
ECU works to improve the safety of its students
Natalie Jurgen
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
| |
|
Three students in the hall heard the disturbance and came to the aid of the victim. The students were able to physically subdue the suspect and he was arrested on-site and transported to the Pitt County Detention Center.
The victim was later treated for injuries received during the attack.
ECU officials have drawn a common conclusion that the attacker entered the dorm via "tailgating" or "surfing." Tailgating is when a student holds the door open for the person behind them to enter, when in actuality that person may not be a resident.
"I received a phone call from both an RA and the police about the attack," said Mandy Plucker, Fletcher Hall coordinator. "When I arrived on the scene the police were there and the perpetrator was in handcuffs."
According to Plucker, the student returned to the dorms Monday after being treated for injuries.
"She is a very strong young woman," Plucker said.
The attacker was later identified as a 2004 ECU graduate. The attacker had recently been living in Tennessee and it is believed by police that he has not lived in Greenville for seven months.
"This was a very unusual incident," said ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton, "It was not predictable whatsoever and could not have been prevented."
Shelton said that the attack was completely random and the attacker would have chosen someone else if not the victim he chose.
An important question that the attack raises is what will be done to improve the safety of students in the dorms.
Todd Johnson, associate vice chancellor for housing and dining, believes that education is the best way to prevent such attacks.
"Training and changing behaviors of students and encouraging personal responsibility for safety is the best method for preventing such attacks," said Johnson.
Johnson suggested a variety of communication mediums for educating students such as hall meetings and message boards.
The ECU Police Department is also currently enforcing a crime prevention unit and officers are conducting programs on dorm safety.
The Crime Prevention Unit consists of student patrol officers that receive in-house training on safety and security. These officers patrol the residence halls in groups of two. Students are encouraged to utilize these officers if they see any suspicious behavior.
"If students see something unusual, they should feel comfortable calling the police," Shelton said.
These officers also escort students Thursday through Saturday from 9 p.m.- 3 a.m., and Sunday through Wednesday from 9 p.m.- 1 a.m.
"There are 16 residence halls with over 200 cameras throughout the dorms," said Kemal Atkins, vice provost of student affairs. "Each dorm has a live-in coordinator that is a professional staff person in addition to resident advisors on each floor."
These safety measures are another hope for preventing a similar attack in the future.
This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story