Towson University Works To Keep Student Pedestrians Safer
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- Student safety goes beyond Towson University's campus. Tuesday night, police, faculty and students walked the perimeter of the university, highlighting areas that make students targets for off-campus crime and for getting hit by a car.
Christie Ileto has more.
It's a route many Towson students take and their walk is now getting safer. Around Towson University's perimeter, police reveal which blocks are pedestrian friendly and which streets are well lit.
"When the sun goes down, there's lower visibility," said Dr. Joyce Harold, who organized this. "One of the key components to this is being alert, being thoughtful and an aware citizen."
The walk is just about being a safe pedestrian but it's also about making sure these students don't become a victim of violent crime while walking at night.
Campus police say last school year, 118 crimes were reported. One was an on-campus robbery.
"I think that a lot of our students feel that just because they're safe on campus, that they may also be safe off campus," said Cpl. Kia Williams. "That's not necessarily the case."
"I don't feel totally safe off campus," sophomore Kelsey Clayton said.
Clayton knows about 2013's off-campus attacks. One of the victims, a Towson student, was stabbed for his cell phone.
"It was a lot of blows happening really quickly," that student said.
But it's these walks that illustrate a safer route for the students who make this all too familiar trek on and off campus.
"I think this is a good way to be more safe off campus," said a student.
Campus police don't have exact numbers for this year, but say their current crime rate is lower than this time last year.
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