News
 

Students express concern on crime

Residents say they're worried about safety after recent incidents

by Portia-Elaine Gant
Senior Staff Writer

In light of a recent spate of robberies on campus, some UH residents say there's a problem that needs to be addressed.

"The recent crime is a tremendous problem, and we've got to address it," political science sophomore Russell Payne said. "The school should increase security and increase their rounds in the housing areas like Cougar Place and the Quad. One of the issues we have had is that bikes are being stolen all the time."

Payne, who is president of the Cougar Place Hall Council, said he has also noticed a lack of security between Cougar Place and the Oberholtzer Hall C Store.

"That's an important area, because the Quad has the closest C-Store to Cougar Place, so a lot of our residents go there," Payne said. "We need to make sure that they're well protected."

Communication freshman Szintia Szanto, who also lives in Cougar Place, had a different take on the security of Cougar Place residents.

"I haven't had anything stolen from me, so I'm fine. I can't walk around scared all the time," Szanto said. "I do think that the (Quadrangle and Moody Towers) are safer than the apartments. There are more call boxes there, and their parking lots are a lot closer for them."

But when Oberholtzer C Store employee Oscar Green was stabbed Friday, the possibility that the residence halls are unsafe began to surface in some residents' minds.

"You walk around with a sense of security because you're on campus, and you think that you're being protected all the time," English junior Curt Donihoo, also a Cougar Place resident, said. "When I heard about the stabbing, I was surprised. I can understand fighting, but the idea that someone was so upset that they thought they should stab someone else, especially in the C Store, is unbelievable."

The incident surprised many residents, but others seemed unfazed.

"When I moved in here, I knew where I was going to be," interdisciplinary studies freshman Ashli Coon said. "This kind of thing happens, but I feel safe enough that I don't think I'll move because of it."

Other students said they're taking precautions like using steering-wheel locks on their vehicles and removing their bicycle seats to deter thefts, but caution may be the best defense.

"Overall, we need to caution our residents. Sometimes we all forget and walk outside at 1 a.m., but we need to be conscious of where we are," said Karl Hearne, an interdisciplinary studies junior. "I have a few friends who don't even lock their doors. When your stuff is gone, though, you want to know where to and why."

The UH Police Department offers tips on crime prevention, office security and protecting personal property for students, faculty and staff online at www.uh.edu/police/tips.html.
 

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu