A number of safety improvements are in place at the University of Colorado at Boulder for the 2000-2001 school year and more are on the way.
More than $300,000 in lighting improvements have been completed on the CU-Boulder campus over the past year. Another $300,000 is expected to be spent on lighting projects this year in an ongoing effort to improve campus safety, according to Jim Fadenrecht, public safety director at CU-Boulder.
The most significant improvements have been made by the Engineering Complex, near the College of Business and Hallett, Reed and Cockerell residence halls. New emergency call boxes are in place in addition to lighting improvements, Fadenrecht said. There are now 31 free-standing call boxes located throughout the campus and 16 wall-mounted units in parking garages. Community service aides check the call boxes on a weekly basis to be sure they are working properly, he said.
The CU-Boulder police force this year also will be staffed at its highest level, with a total of 40 officers, according to Lt. Tim McGraw. Depending on the time of day there will be between three and nine officers patrolling the campus.
CU-Boulder police, in coordination with the Boulder Police Department, have added patrols to the three private complexes where approximately 110 freshmen will be housed. The patrols of Sterling University Peaks, Timber Ridge and Kensington will support students' safety and well-being off campus.
In addition to the police patrols, NightRide/NightWalk provides students, faculty and staff with escorts around the CU campus and anywhere within the Boulder city limits upon request. In the spring 2000 semester 4,621 escorts were provided, a 50 percent increase over the 3,065 escorts in spring of 1999, according to Jeff Davis, NightRide/NightWalk director.
NightRide/NightWalk began in 1985 and has increased in both use and funding over the years, Davis said. The program now has 15 paid staff members and the main operation has moved to the University Memorial Center with a post still located in Norlin Library, the original home of the service. The program also has increased the number of vehicles it uses from one to three.