Campus safety issues on agenda as Grela speaks at PSS meeting

Based on 1994 crime figures, Grela said a person's chances of being a victim of a crime were 1 out of 10 in the City of Buffalo, 1 out of 34 in the Town of Amherst and 1 out of 49 on either the North or South campus.

The figures were obtained by dividing the number of crimes in a particular jurisdiction by the population.

Grela also reported on UB's crime statistics for 1996, which show a decline over 1995 in several categories, including burglaries, assaults, false fire alarms, bomb threats, grand larceny, stolen cars and arson.

The figures for 1996 did increase in some categories, however. There were 12 robberies in 1996, up from seven in 1995; 325 cases of petit larceny, up from 312 in 1995; 25 bike thefts, up from 22, and 313 reports of criminal mischief, compared to 291 in 1995. One rape was reported in each year.

Grela said the improvement in most of the statistics partly reflects reductions in crime seen at the national level.

He discussed with senators some of the changes in the ways that Public Safety deals with incidents, such as the use of yellow "Alert" signs that immediately are posted in an area where an incident has occurred. The signs state whether a suspect has been identified, gives physical details about suspects and requests help from the campus community where necessary.

Public Safety also maintains a "constant dialogue" with Buffalo and Amherst police, Grela said.

In addition, he noted that when there is a report of an incident, Public Safety officers respond within three minutes.

While South Campus staff members applauded Public Safety's efforts, they noted that some incidents still seem to occur with disturbing regularity.

"Our concern is that although the statistics show crime is going down, it seems like every week someone in the building is being robbed," said one woman who works in the Cary-Farber-Sherman addition and feels there has been an increase in thefts of purses and other personal items.

She and others added that many students and staff members who work in research labs do not leave campus until 10 p.m. or later. They expressed concern about having to walk to parking lots alone at those hours and during weekends, and said they would like to have a Public Safety officer escort them.

Grela said that any member of the UB community who is leaving a building after hours may request an escort by calling x2222 on either campus.

Depending on availability, a patrol car will be dispatched to the appropriate parking lot. Grela also suggested that, where possible, staff and students try to leave buildings in groups.

Moreover, deans, department heads or other administrators may request that specific buildings be equipped with additional security measures, such as card-access or alarm systems.

In general, Grela advised senators to exercise caution, remain alert and call Public Safety whenever someone or something looks suspicious."Wherever you are on campus, if you see somebody who you don't think belongs on campus, call us," he said. "That's what we're here for."

Senators mentioned other safety concerns on the South Campus, including the lack of signs in buildings, which often leads to unauthorized people in certain areas, and traffic problems for both drivers and pedestrians, particularly around Michael Road.