By: Brie White, Senior Writer
Campus Union delegate Fredy Madrid ’20 found a need for a new Campus Safety committee after facing a “perilous situation during a typical bicycle ride in the surroundings of our beloved campus.” Shortly after, he drafted a proposal to be voted upon. With the help of Dean Bigger, Coronel Hall, Taven Leblond and fellow delegate Curneisha Williams ’20, as well as the entirety of the Campus Union Assembly, the Ad Hoc Campus Safety Committee was passed.
Madrid felt the need for this committee because Wofford’s campus is open to the public. He says, “Currently, we do not have something like this commitee on campus and we need representation of the whole student body to work with the Campus Safety department.”
The committee will be comprised of: the entire Campus Safety Department, one student athlete (a current member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council), two Resident Assistants (current members of Resident Assistant Leadership Team), one member of the Army ROTC, one member of the Wofford Diversity Council, one member of Greek life (current member of Panhellenic or Interfraternity Council) and one staff member (a current member of SAAC).
Madrid says the main goal of the committee is “to enhance and promote safety and security for the student body, faculty and staff.” The committee’s first official meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28 and will be biweekly from there. Immediate goals include creating educational programming and moving cars from Memorial Drive to more secure areas. Madrid calls Memorial Drive “an incredibly dangerous area”. Safer areas include the secure and patrolled lots of F, T, C and D across from the new indoor basketball stadium.
“We understand that the parking lots are not the most convenient ones. In order to counter this issue, an escort service will be created in order to transport students who park in that area.”
Other hopes for the future include a self defense class and other programs to enhance the safety and security on campus. “These will be co-sponsored by officers, RAs and other chartered organizations,” says Madrid.
Madrid hopes the committee will be permanently established in the Campus Union Assembly for the following academic year.
Questions, concerns, suggestions or wishes to be involved can be directed toward Madrid at [email protected], Dean Roberta Bigger at [email protected], or Coronel Hall at [email protected]