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Teamwork
The Daily Reflector (editorial)
Monday, June 06, 2005
The East Carolina University campus this week looks a shadow of its normal self. Though thousands of students attend summer classes, these months lack the perpetual energy that marks the fall and spring semesters.
Even absent the bustle, the possibility of violent crime exists on campus, and students must be careful. So said Robert Martin, a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, at a lecture on campus last week.
While Martin's sentiment rings true, ensuring campus safety extends beyond the students as well – to the campus police, the university administration and the community at large. East Carolina provides tremendous benefit to this region, but hosting the university comes with a responsibility to work toward helping keep safe the students who call Greenville home.
In a lecture sponsored by the ECU Police and Campus Safety Departments, the Hendrix Theater provided the forum for Martin to outline the steps students can take to ensure safety. He argued that all people possess a capacity for violence and that it is crucial for those on campus to be aware of that threat. Martin noted the importance of smart choices and communication with officials when a possible threat emerges.
However, Martin's key focus was that responsibility for safety on campus rests with the individual. He stated East Carolina officials are only responsible for removing hazards, but that ultimately students, staff, faculty and guests must take care of themselves.
There is some truth to that. Making smart decisions – such as walking in lighted areas at night or steering away from strangers – is an important component to safety. Following thoughtful guidelines should ensure the campus police or other law enforcement officials will not be needed.
Yet, in many ways, safety at East Carolina should be a cooperative effort rather than an individual responsibility.
East Carolina draws students from many places, including towns where violent crime is not a problem. It welcomes young adults away from home for the first time; they are making independent decisions without supervision and some are bound to be wrong. There must be a safety net to ensure, wherever possible, such mistakes do not have lasting repercussions.
That requires a community working together to provide a safe and secure campus environment. That requires healthy working relationships – between East Carolina campus police and Greenville police, campus and city officials and students and residents – founded on respect and cooperation. It requires considerable work to keep the lines of communication open, but it is vital to assuring the university's safety goals.
Individual responsibility plays a tremendous role in ensuring safety at East Carolina. But to overlook the importance of a cooperative community is to miss an important asset of this university. |
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