Keeping Homedrix Safe

Recent incidents on campus prompt new and higher safety measures

Many students were alarmed and shocked last month when they saw screenshots of the same message being shared across social media that said “don’t walk alone.” A student had been followed and grabbed while walking from her apartment. For so many students, Hendrix is a safe and warm space. This made learning that someone had been followed even more of a shock to everyone. In the next few days, the air surrounding the girls’ dorms was thick with the tension of fear; GroupMe group chats were especially supportive. RAs bought their residents pepper spray and sent infographics depicting basic self-defense maneuvers. When the water went out in Galloway Hall, residents walked in pairs to neighboring Veasey Hall for fear of being out alone. The peace and safety of campus had been lost.

Kristen North, a senior, recounted the events that happened to her. “So, the event happened around 7pm when I was walking to the SLTC,” she said. Kristen had been walking to the SLTC to meet a friend for dinner. She lives in the Hendrix Corner Apartments and was walking down Front Street toward Ellis Hall when she noticed a man in the parking lot of the businesses on the other side of the street. Once she had crossed the street, she noticed he was following her and picked up her pace.

“Once I got near Fausett, I tried to lose him by that little fish pond and bushes area. Whenever I tried to duck away, he grabbed my arm. Then I bolted and ran all the way to the SLTC.” Kristen describes this experience as very traumatic for her. She did not report it to PSafe immediately after it happened because of the strong reaction she had. Kristen said that it wasn’t until around 11PM that she was able to react – she decided to post on her Instagram story, feeling that it would be the most effective way to warn other students. Her RAs saw the post and made her leave her apartment at midnight to report the incident to PSafe.

“I went to PSafe around midnight, not of my own free will, and when I got there, the best way I can describe it was that PSafe blamed me for the incident. They were really angry that I hadn’t reported it right away and had warned other students via social media before I came to them. It really felt like I was being punished for my own trauma response, when honestly, I wasn’t even able to speak for a couple hours after it had happened because I was so scared. So PSafe took my statement and [they were] like ‘how do you expect us to catch this guy if you didn’t report it when it happened? ...it must not have been that serious’,” says Kristen.

In addition to reporting the incident to PSafe, the College’s Public Safety Office also told Kristen that she needed to file a report with the Conway Police Department.

After reporting the incident to the Conway Police, Kristen “got a call from the Conway PD telling [her] they were closing the

Lauren Allen| Staff Writer/Photographer

case. They said that it was a Hendrix issue and that they couldn’t do much about it unless I saw the guy walking around [off campus].” Kristen said that this was infuriating because PSafe told her that she had to report the issue because it was a Conway problem. Kristen had found it really frustrating that PSafe “took away any autonomy [I] had in the matter.” In recounting the events, she wishes she had been given more psychological support after the incident occurred.

Just one day after Kristen was grabbed, another man was spotted peering into the windows of Galloway Hall. More shockwaves radiated across campus as Conway Police’s patrols were once again felt and seen. Just as with Kristen’s case, the woman who was stalked was told by PSafe to report the case to Conway PD. After a few days, her case was also closed for lack of evidence; there was nothing that Conway PD could do.

Public Safety does not carry weapons because they are not members of law enforcement. Dean Wiltgen said that patrols have been increased in all areas of campus since the incidents occurred. He also stressed that students should never walk alone, noting that incidents rarely occur while students are in groups. In response to both events, the Student Senate has formed a Task Force on Public Safety to work directly with PSafe to improve campus safety. This task force has existed previously, and the Senate felt as though recent events necessitated its reinstatement.

President of the Senate, Hailey Johnston said: “The task force on campus safety will meet with the dean of students and public safety biweekly to discuss campus safety issues. We hope to accomplish lighting some of the darker spots on campus, fix the blue emergency buttons, and keep the administration up to date on broken safety features on campus like doors and lights.”

Many things on campus are different this semester as students attempt to navigate college life during a pandemic. Safety and security remain top priorities for students and administration, even as the school year comes to a close. Dean Wiltgen encourages students to call PSafe at 501-450-7711 any time for an escort across campus.