MSA tests support for Greektown safety plans

MSA sent out a survey to gauge the Greek reaction to emergency phones.

By Megan Stroup

Published March 2, 2009

The Missouri Students Association sent out a survey to Greek students early last week to gauge their support of several proposed plans to improve safety in Greektown.

Placing emergency phones in Greektown was a major component of MSA President Jordan Paul's platform during his election last fall.

Almost a month ago, Paul met with Greek Life representatives to discuss the placement of emergency phones. Both the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association said they wanted to make Greektown as safe as possible, but they didn't agree emergency phones would be the best avenue.

Instead, two new ideas for improving safety were suggested at the meeting: increased lighting and a mass text messaging system. Paul said the survey addressed all three of these plans and also had a comment box for the students to add their own ideas about improving Greektown safety.

"We believe (the survey) is a great way to further reach out to the Greek community," IFC spokesman Ryan Morimura said in an e-mail. "MSA has heard the voices of the presidents but there very well may be a good idea out there that has not yet been heard."

PHA also expressed their approval of the survey, adding MSA has been wonderful to work with.

"The survey is a great way to get a general consensus of what Greek men and women think about the issue," PHA President Caroline Vastyan said.

After the first 48 hours of the survey did not yield a large response, MSA extended the survey to run until Friday. Paul said there have not yet been enough responses to figure out a trend one way or another.

"The initial responses as far as emergency phones were overwhelmingly positive, with a disproportionately female response," he said.

IFC President Danny Jonas said Greektown is already relatively safe.

"It's such a highly concentrated area," he said. "At anytime there are numerous people awake in their common rooms studying, or just hanging out."

Morimura said both fraternities and sororities advocated increasing safety at their presidents' meeting but wanted to make sure emergency phones were the best option.

"I think text messaging might be the best thing right now," Jonas said in an e-mail. "With the e-phones the only people that will know that something is happening in Greektown is the person who's in trouble and the police department."

Jonas explained that with a mass texting system, everyone would be aware of an incident within seconds and be able to check on the safety of their chapter members.

"I'm not crazy about the discussion of alternate plans if it doesn't work in Greektown," Paul said.

He said there are already people on campus, such as Residential Life and the Campus Safety Committee who are working blue lights into their plans.

"The campus is being taken care of," Paul said. "This is an area no one is even looking at, that is why we're doing it."