After tragedy struck and a gunman attacked the Chapel Hill campus at the University of North Carolina in late August, the feeling of security at UNC was compromised, sparking many other universities to question the topic of safety on their campuses.
To get the perspective of UMKC students, Roo News staff asked over 50 students how safe they felt on campus.
“At UMKC, I feel decently safe–I don’t think the people who go to school here necessarily have malicious intentions because a lot of us are just here to get through our classes and get on with our day,” said Jessica Smith, a junior majoring in psychology.
Smith’s opinion was echoed by most students. However, many said those feelings of safety only accounted for daytime on campus. According to the interviewees, once it gets dark, the sense of security fades away.
“I feel relatively safe on campus–except at night,” said Noah Johnson, a freshman majoring in finance. “I know that this area is a little sketchy, so I always stay alert when walking to class.”
UMKC’s Volker campus sits between Brookside Blvd. and Troost Ave. by the Country Club Plaza. This area is notorious for being dangerous at night.
However, many students mentioned they saw an abundance of police on and around campus. Alex Vaught, a sophomore majoring in business says that the UMKC Police contributes to his sense of security on campus.
“[It’s a] big campus with a big police presence,” Vaught said. “Students are very aware [which] makes it feel safe.”
If students feel unsafe on campus or would like to report a problem, campus police can be reached at (816)-235-1515.
