Safety walks ensure the security of both campuses
Both Life Safety at SJU and Campus Security at CSB have recently taken new measures to ensure the safety of the students in the campus communities.
In recent years, both CSB and SJU have taken significant steps to improve student safety, particularly during the night hours when the campuses may feel quieter and less populated. Night safety walks are becoming a consistent part of our campus safety programs. Russ Klein, CSB+SJU Physical Plant director, says these walks are made up of himself, administrators (the CSB and SJU Deans of Students), safety personnel (such as Campus Security, Life Safety, and the Fire Chief) and student participants from CSB and SJU Student Athletic Advisory Committees (SAAC), the student Senates, and Resident Assistants.
“The night safety walks are structured to view the campus through the students’ eyes, especially after dark,” Klein said. “Our goal is to ensure student voices are heard directly so we can address their safety needs proactively.”
For many students, walking across campus at night—whether it’s to study late in the library, return from a social event or walk to their dorm—can feel intimidating or unsafe. Areas with insufficient lighting, isolated pathways or parking lots farther from populated areas can make students feel vulnerable. Night safety walks are designed to address these concerns by actively engaging students and staff in identifying and mitigating risks.
“Those responsible for making impactful changes are usually on campus during typical business hours,” Klein said. “Night safety walks provide a critical opportunity for students to share their experiences while decision-makers gather the information needed to make informed, effective choices about campus safety.”
Night safety walks typically involve groups of students, administrators and Life Safety and Campus Security officers walking predetermined routes around the campus in the evening or late at night. The routes are chosen based on areas of concern reported by students or identified in previous safety audits. Walk participants will pay special attention to factors such as:
Lighting: Ensuring that all walkways, parking lots and entrances are well-lit. Poor lighting has long been identified as a contributing factor to crimes, as it can provide cover for individuals with malicious intent.
Campus Infrastructure: Identifying areas that might need repairs or paths that may be overgrown or difficult to navigate at night. It is also important to evaluate the visibility and functionality of things such as crosswalks and stop signs.
Emergency Resources: Testing resources and locations for things such as blue phones for accessibility and functionality, ensuring that students have quick access to help in an emergency.
These walks also provide an opportunity to engage with all students. St. Ben’s Senate Public Relations Representative Olivia Shaw expressed the importance of student participation.
“All students are invited to join CSB Security and Life Safety in doing these walks,” Shaw said. “Without speaking up for what students need, they don’t know what needs to change, so this is the time where students need to use their voices.”
The benefits of night safety walks are more than just physical changes to campus security. These initiatives have proven to be valuable in creating a safer campus culture, promoting student well-being and fostering student and administrative collaboration.
“They are an important venture because often times the people who are able to make our campuses safer do not always notice what we students see, so this bridges the gap of communication,” said Aubrey Sherman, vice president of the St. John’s Senate.
Klein shared what the safety walks have accomplished so far.
“Thanks to active student participation, we’ve implemented some significant improvements,” Klein said. “Two prominent outcomes are the flashing crosswalk on College Avenue leading to Centennial Commons and the sidewalk on Nicol Bridge across County Road 159. We’ve also addressed tripping hazards, improved lighting in numerous areas and conducted tree trimming around lighting fixtures to ensure pathways are well-lit.”
In the future, Klein hopes to continue these walks and hopefully bring more student issues to light so solutions can be found. The next night safety walks are scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Sexton and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Gorecki.