Stay Safe

In the past month, one major policing event has occurred on the UNC campus. The police department notified students of an incident that happened on campus on Feb. 25, 2010. The officers said that a person was struck with an unidentified object by a suspect in a tunnel on campus. This tunnel connects the two campuses of UNC and gives students an alternative to crossing the street. The victim was not seriously hurt, but an incident like this definitely stirs fear among the campus community.

I was very impressed with the way the police department handled the incident. Mikel Longman, the chief of police at UNC, sent out an e-mail to all students informing them of the occurrence. In addition to providing facts, he also gave tips about staying safe on campus. For most of us, we have heard these tips over and over. It’s the cliché – the “don’t walk alone,” the “be aware of your surroundings” and the “be cautious of others.” Although we grow up hearing these tips and are reminded of them after many incidents, it is still nice to hear them yet again. Staying safe on campus is very important, and we often forget that these simple tips really can increase our safety.

It is hard for us to acknowledge the fact that we are vulnerable, and unfortunately, it takes events like this to remind us. At least we can follow simple tips that strive to keep us safe.