HOUSTON – Students gathered Wednesday at the University of Houston to protest mounting safety concerns following a series of alarming incidents on campus.
Over the past two weeks, reports of a sexual assault in a parking garage and multiple armed robberies have left students feeling uneasy and calling for immediate action from university leadership. During the protest, students openly voiced their frustrations and shared personal experiences about their safety concerns.
To gain insight into the campus climate, a whiteboard with the question, “Do you feel safe on campus?” was used as part of the interview process. Students walked up to cast their votes, with the majority indicating they did not feel safe. These responses underscored the urgency of the issue.
Students Speak Out
As students cast their votes and shared their thoughts, many revealed the deep impact recent incidents have had on their sense of security:
• Christopher Vasquez, Senior Nutrition Major: “I don’t feel safe staying late on campus. I don’t see much police presence, and it feels like we’re being ignored.”
• Patrick Murray, Junior Engineering Major: “Security feels nonexistent sometimes. Too often, they’re on their phones instead of patrolling. We need personnel who are actively engaged.”
• Ionic Gardner, Sophomore: “As a woman, the parking garages are especially scary. The lack of visible security makes me feel even more vulnerable.”
• Caitlin Johnson, Sophomore: “After everything that’s happened, I started carrying mace and a bike chain. I shouldn’t have to rely on these measures to feel safe.”
Demands for Change
The protest, organized by the group “Deeds, Not Words,” wasn’t just about raising awareness—it was about demanding concrete actions to improve campus safety.
Among the key demands:
- Increased police and security presence in high-risk areas, such as parking garages, dormitories, and poorly lit walkways.
- Upgraded lighting throughout campus to eliminate dark, secluded areas.
- Expansion of the university’s ride service to ensure safer transportation options for students at night.
“Students are paying so much to attend this university, but many of us don’t even feel safe walking to class,” said organizer Ramona Akeel. “The administration needs to listen and act now.”
Message to Leadership
Students expressed frustration with what they see as a lack of urgency and accountability from university officials. Many said they would like to address university leadership directly.
• Patrick Murray: “Beef up security. We need qualified personnel who actually care about student safety.”
• Caitlin Johnson: “Madam President, help us feel safe. We shouldn’t have to fear for our safety while trying to get an education.”
• Ramona Akeel: “Safety needs to be the top priority. If students don’t feel secure, how can they focus on their education?”
Campus Climate
Students spoke not just about recent incidents but about long-standing issues such as poor lighting, insufficient security presence, and slow response times from campus police.
One student said, “It feels like the administration is waiting for this to blow over. But these problems won’t go away until they take real steps to address them.”
University Response
The University of Houston released a statement about the recent security incidents:
“The University of Houston is addressing recent safety concerns on and around campus and has taken significant steps to ensure the security of our community. The recent incidents, while unusual in both nature and frequency, are concerning and being met with swift actions. We are aggressively pursuing all cases in collaboration with Harris County law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s office, which accepted charges this morning for the individual initially arrested Friday for the recent sexual assault on campus. The University of Houston Police Department has enhanced security measures, which includes increased patrols and doubling the number of security officers. We are asking our campus community to help us by immediately reporting any suspicious activity.”
FAQs
Q: What are the key demands of the protest?
A: The key demands include increased police and security presence, upgraded lighting, and expansion of the university’s ride service.
Q: What is the university’s response to the recent security incidents?
A: The University of Houston is addressing the recent safety concerns and has taken significant steps to ensure the security of the community.
Q: What is the campus community being asked to do?
A: The campus community is being asked to help by reporting any suspicious activity immediately.
