New Safety Report details campus construction, blue light problems
Published Dec. 7, 2007
Almost two months after the campus Safety Walk, the Department of Student Services released a findings report Wednesday.
The report, compiled by Department of Student Services Director Jordan Paul, highlighted recommendations and safety concerns for various areas on campus.
Paul said the report was not released until Wednesday because the process is time consuming.
"We had to write it and get it around to everyone in the office before we could release it," Paul said. "It just took a while to get around to."
During the Safety Walk on Oct. 9., guests divided into four groups and toured different places of the MU campus, noting areas of concern. According to the report, blue light emergency phones were tested at random by MUPD on each route.
The Safety Walk Report stated lighting is the most important issue to address, because roughly 50 percent of lights in AV-14 and the Hearnes Center parking lot are not lit.
Senate Student Affairs Chairwoman Erin Moran expressed concern for safety in her committee and Senate meetings.
"I want to replace the light bulbs," Moran said.
Also, some blue light locations are in need of maintenance, according to the report.
"Blue lights are the flagship of student safety at Mizzou," the report stated.
In addition to the parking lots and blue lights, construction hazards were also stated as important concerns. The fence around Brady Commons used to have a green cover, which has now been taken down. Because of this, Paul believes that the chain link fence is in the process of being taken down.
"We are going to investigate the matter and make sure that the fence is scheduled to be taken down in the near future regardless if that is the case in the status quo," Paul said.
The report stated that construction zones should be clearly marked and new signs should be made.
According to Paul, the responsibility for those changes belongs to MU's maintenance staff.
"It's just day-to-day upkeep that is important," Paul said.