The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is compiling results from its on-campus lighting tour last week to give to the department of physical facilities to assess projects they will be taking on as maintenance duties.
According to Randi Keefer, secretary for on-campus affairs for Associated Student Government (ASG), the lighting tour was intended to locate the places on campus that have a lack of lighting or too much. The tour also finds lights that may be burnt out, so they can be fixed. All general assembly members participated including one on-campus senator.
Keefer said the forms were turned into physical facilities the week of the tour, and the results and data are in the process of being reviewed. The report will be released soon.
Chief of Miami University Police Department, John McCandless, said emergency call boxes and outdoor lighting help with student's feelings of security.
McCandless offered that Miami's 15 emergency call boxes act more as security blankets for students than their practical use for calling emergency personnel.
"I don't know anybody that goes to college that doesn't have a cell phone anymore," McCandless said. "It would be unfair to say (emergency call boxes) don't have any value, but I can only think of one time in five years to report something to us."
Those 15 boxes are located on sidewalks and pathways around campus, but 12 more are inside parking ramps and 37 more are inside elevators on campus. An additional four are located at the Recreational Sports Center (RSC).
"Every year I've been here … ASG and a lot of student groups - one of the things they advocate for are campus lighting and call boxes," McCandless said.
McCandless explained that crime statistics at Miami are mostly centered on alcohol.
"The truth of the matter is (if students would) cut back on alcohol overuse and abuse we would have a stunning impact on every crime that MUPD deals with," McCandless said.
McCandless said most sexual assault crimes occur in the accused or the victims' residence halls or bedrooms in homes.
"It's good people are jazzed up about wanting to increase (call boxes)," McCandless said. "I'm just not sure if the reality of things is if we would make any impact."
McCandless said many phone calls MUPD receive are from cell phones.
Cody Powell, director of building maintenance, said the long-range housing plan spurred a discussion concerning sexual assault crimes that occurred in the past. The committee wanted to ensure areas are well lit.
Powell said Miami follows the industry standard for illumination for exterior lighting but encourages students to contact maintenance for suggestions on poorly lit areas on campus or burnt out light bulbs.
"Let us know and we will investigate and repair or determine whether it makes sense to have lights there or not," Powell said.
According to annual surveys distributed by MUPD, students generally feel safe on campus.
"Typically we run in the high 90s in surveyed students," McCandless said. "Students feel very safe on campus."
First-year Torrey Schusterman said the police patrol makes her feel safe around her residence hall.
"I feel safe on campus," Schusterman said. "I feel like the police control a good amount on East (quad) because of High Street.
