A panel composed of administrators and University and Durham law enforcement officials gathered Tuesday night in the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture to discuss on- and off-campus safety with students.
The panel-which included Vice President for Student Affairs Janet Dickerson, Durham Chief of Police Teresa Chambers and Campus Police Chief Alana Ennis-addressed a variety of safety issues during the hour-and-a-half long event, which focused primarily on issues of jurisdiction of the two enforcement departments, crimes on campus and students' relationship with the Duke University Police Department.
Both Ennis and Chambers emphasized throughout the discussion that students must take necessary precautions, such as traveling in groups, when walking on and around campus. "Students need to try to make themselves less vulnerable victims," Chambers said. "The odds of [the criminal] being caught are greater if you are in numbers."
Ennis reiterated Chambers' comments, adding that students are more at risk for assault by a fellow student than by an outsider.
An additional frustration often encountered by students is that their first inclination is to contact Campus Police when a crime is committed, even if that crime occurs off campus, Ennis said. Because Campus Police has no jurisdiction over off-campus locations, the students must then be directed to the Durham Police Department.
In order to alleviate some of the confusion, both departments are looking into gaining joint jurisdiction over certain areas, such as the neighborhoods directly around East Campus. They are currently lobbying the North Carolina state government, which is responsible for delegating such authority.
Both Dickerson and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sue Wasiolek were asked to evaluate the relationship between students and police officers, focusing primarily on the students' attitude toward Campus Police.
Dickerson pointed out that for the most part, students have been "very responsible and responsive in their interactions with police," noting that a few extreme situations may have tainted the perception of the relationship.
Wasiolek emphasized the importance of the police department's role in the educational experience. "Students usually use very good judgment, but at times they do not," she said. "DUPD can play an important role in the educational process."
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