VCU Police and Alumni Association purchase student safety devices

Mechelle Hankerson News Editor

In an effort to help students protect themselves on campus, VCU Police has teamed up with the VCU and MCV Alumni Associations to purchase and distribute 1,040 personal safety devices.

The devices, which VCU Police have been researching for about a year, emit a 130- decibel noise when a pin is removed from the body of the device.

VCU Police asked for the assistance of the Alumni Associations, who helped fund the project that cost approximately $3,600.

“We just felt like it was an important service for our students,” said Alumni Association executive director Diane Stout-Brown. “We try to serve the university community.”

Officer Jonathan Siok spearheaded the project and said there was no specific incident that prompted him to move forward, but he thought it was an important resource for students to have available to them,

“The whole goal of this is, not to give a false sense of security by any means, but ... to maintain the safety of students and staff,” Siok said.

“Officer Siok saw the need here on campus for taking responsibility for your own safety,” VCU Police Chief John Venuti said.

Siok also said the safety devices are an alternative to other means of personal protection, like Mace.

According to Siok, Mace doesn’t work on everyone and if Mace were to be used in dorms, the fire department would have to be involved.

With a limited number of devices, the police department is still working out what would be the best way to distribute them. Currently, they plan to distribute the devices at VCUPD safety presentations and new student orientations.

“It’s also a great resource to have when we come in contact with either students, faculty or staff who are reporting crimes or having issues,” Venuti said. “It is nice to be able to provide them with something that is going to enhance their level of personal safety.”

VCU Police hope to sell the devices through campus bookstores, though nothing has been finalized. CT

“It seems as if they take forever to respond,” Cox said. “When they do respond, it is not the least bit helpful.”

Like Cox, VCU junior Devon Beach has tried repeatedly to contact the committee, not only to figure out who the surprise performer is, but also to get general information like the cost of tickets.

“(I) would like to know how much the concerts going to be and who’s going and if it’s worth it,” Beach said.

At VCU, Homecoming includes a week of festivities. Some of the festivities are the crowning of a Homecoming king and queen, a Chill-N-Grill and a concert at the conclusion of Homecoming week.

According to the committee’s CollegiateLink webpage, the Homecoming Committee was established in 2003 to “focus on bringing students and alumni together during the basketball season.”

However, this year’s situation is ap- pearing to bring students together to rally against the committee instead of bolstering school spirit.

“(The Homecoming Committee is) losing opportunities to hype this concert because they are waiting (until the) last minute,” Beach said before the announcement.

The mixed messages have led some frustrated students, like Cox, to take action and run for next year's Homecoming Committee to prevent a similar situation from happening.

“I feel as if the committee was not well prepared,” Cox said. “They can handle the situation in a better manner than they are doing so right now.” CT

VCU Homecoming week will kick off Jan. 30 and run through Feb. 4. A complete list of Homecoming activities can be found on the Homecoming VCU Facebook page.