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On Monday, October 17, Viking Council hosted a campus safety walk open to all Grand View students to identify safe spots and other areas of improvement. For years, GV has maintained the reputation of being a small and safe campus. However, there is always room for growth or discussion about campus safety.  As the fall season brings an earlier sunset,  appropriate actions must be taken to remedy a darkened campus.  

Senior Student Affairs Officer John Howe is prepared to advocate for student safety.

“It was an idea I brought to Viking Council… It’s something that I’ve participated in previous campuses in which I’ve worked with our student government associations,” Howe said. 

Events like campus walks open the opportunity for students to engage with security staff or just faculty in general as they go about their academic day. This allows a safe and engaged campus, creating partnerships and alliances along the way. 

“That’s partly where this walk is helpful too. Making sure that everyone feels that they’re part of creating a safe community,” Howe said. 

Howe notes that these exact partnerships and relationships are what fuel campus unity and its overall safety. 

“I think a lot of times people think that it’s security’s job to make sure that we’re safe, and ultimately it’s all of our jobs,” Howe said.

It is each student’s responsibility to have campus safety measures ensured, such as having the campus security number as a contact on their phone, locking their cars, walking in pairs, and practicing responsibility on campus, creating a secure environment.  

Vermillion, South Dakota, the small town that Howe previously resided in, has many similarities to Des Moines. And although these are small towns and cities, universities should still take precautions.

“There was a lot of folks who came from small towns, and I know that’s the case here at Grand View too, where maybe you don’t necessarily lock your car or lock your door, but that’s just part of being a good citizen too,” Howe said. 

Taking safety measures may not come off as kind or welcoming. Avoiding safety measures could imply consequences that put others at risk.

“If you see someone who you don’t know is part of the community, if you’re scanning yourself into a building, it’s not rude to let the door close behind you,” Howe said. “You are creating a safe environment for yourself and all other Grand View students. If that person should enter, they would have access.”

Although smaller universities supply a sense of security, there may be some disadvantages, according to Howe. These resources include legal measures that have worked in many universities across America. Legal and immediate action on campus regarding suspicious or criminal activity can be seen as a positive thing, and would grant the GV community access to resources at their disposal if ever in need of them. Having licensed officers, or School Resource Officers (SRO) could be a controversial decision. There have been cases where students have strived to remove SROs from schools, so there is room for discussion on this topic, especially for students who value safety and well-being on campus.  

“Having those types of resources, I think, do help create a safer environment because you have instant action for the police, but on the other hand, I know students were uncomfortable because they are police, so it is a balance,” Howe said. 

Balance requires knowing GV’s limitations, but also knowing its potential to become a safer place for everyone. When events like safety walks are hosted, it is important that students attend for their physical safety in their educational career.

“I hope that in the future in future semesters, when students see that, they know they’re welcome to take part in that event as well,” Howe said. 

Director of Campus Security Megan Hennigar shares additional ways that GV ensures campus safety and order. She explains the resources that GV has to promote safety. 

“We tell kids that we’ll escort them back, so either we’ll walk back with you or we will give you a ride back to your dorm,” Hennigar said. 

Hennigar advises GV students to be astute with their actions by using small yet effective measures.

“I recommend them at least walking with a friend. That way if anything were to happen, they’re at least with somebody,” Hennigar said.  

Hennigar also expresses the importance of personalizing safety measures that guarantee students have direct access to resources available to them. Should these measures be needed, they would be accessible to GV students.

“I think it’s important that people have the 263-6000 number programmed in their phone…give us a call, make sure we’re not busy and we’ll let you know and be like, ‘Hey, it might be a few minutes, but we can come and get you’…but we’re always down to helping students get from point A to point B,” Hennigar said. 

Grand View can become  a responsible and safe part of the community in many ways. Keeping updated on the latest security measures and expressing their needs is a basic and essential way for students to practice safety.  

“Just communicating…and checking emails because I know a lot of students don’t check their emails, but they miss out on a lot of information,” Hennigar said. 

Although GV’s security team’s main goal is providing safety, the responsibility lies with the community as a whole. From practicing small safety measures,attending campus safety visibility events, to supporting resources that provide stronger and legal security on campus, GV has the potential to become one of the safest places on the East side of Des Moines.