E-phones, poor lighting concerns for Greek students

MSA proposes installing external lights to Greek houses to deter crime.

By Kaylen Ralph

Published April 20, 2010

Following the Greek Safety Walk last week, sidewalk issues and dim street lighting were brought to the attention of Greek Life and MU Police Department personnel.

Whereas last year the issues of most concern were cracks in the sidewalk and potholes, this year the different groups paid special attention to poorly lit areas around Greektown.

"Especially with some of the crimes that have happened, we're looking for areas where the lighting is bad," said Kaitlin Oxenreider, Missouri Students Association director of student services.

MSA President Tim Noce also expressed concern with lighting in Greektown. Noce said it was an issue that came up during his group's walk, which went around the Rollins Street and Providence Road area.

"The most pressing issue I got from my group was the lighting issue, whether it be adding more lights or fixing up old ones," Noce said. "I think a lot of work could be done by fraternity houses by putting external lights on their houses. It's not a huge investment, and I think it could be a good change."

Another issue brought up in Noce's group was the location and use of the solar-powered emergency phones. The phones were a large part of the safety component of past MSA President Jordan Paul's platform and were installed in the summer of 2009. Paul expressed his concern with the discreet nature of the phones, namely that they only light up when in use, in his end of the year report. Paul wrote that according to MUPD, the phones were not used at all in the first month of last semester.

MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said the two additional emergency phones in Greektown are not used any more than the blue light phones located throughout campus, and MUPD does not see the need for an increase in the number of phones at this time.

"The city of Columbia Police Department handles the calls for service in the Greektown area," Weimer said. "We do not have any more or less concern about the area. We work hard with student groups to ensure they have safety information available to them both on and off campus and try to ensure they know how to get any services they may need."

Freshman Kacie Yearout said the phone's discreet design might be a problem.

"It's great that they're there, but if no one knows they're there, what's the point?" Yearout said.

In the fall semester, a Campus Safety Walk was held in conjunction with the Residence Halls Association. For the Greek Safety Walk, a total of 40 students attended, 25 of the representatives were from the Panhellenic Association, 10 were not affiliated with Greek Life and five representatives came from the Interfraternity Council.

"Chapter presidents were notified of the Greek Safety Walk," IFC President Brandon Green said. "Members were asked to attend but not required. IFC had no control over who shows up to these events unless they are required IFC events."

Another issue Paul brought up in his report was the lack of progress on a Greek Mass Alert Text System. Noce said this is not something he has pursued because of the university-wide system already in place and Green agreed it is not a top priority for Greek Life at this time.