University of Houston Student Safety Concerns Heighten Following Recent Crimes
A Concern for Student Safety
State Rep. Jolanda Jones is hosting a town hall meeting on Friday to address student safety concerns at the University of Houston, following recent crimes on campus. The meeting comes after a 40-year-old man was accused of sexually assaulting a female student at knifepoint in a campus parking garage on February 7. Additionally, there have been multiple robberies this month, including a pair of scooter thefts.
UH Students Feel Unprotected
According to Jones, UH students have reached out to her, expressing concerns that the university prioritizes athletics over student safety. "UH students reached out to me to help them because they say that the school does not prioritize them," Jones said. "The school prioritizes athletics and there are violent crimes going on at the school and they don’t feel safe."
University Responds to Concerns
The university has taken steps to enhance its security protocols, including a 24/7 police presence at the garage where the sexual assault occurred. Renu Khator, the campus president and chancellor of the UH system, has also written to faculty and staff, stating that more police officers and monitoring vehicles have been deployed across the campus. The university is also expediting an ongoing project to install campus-wide lighting and creating an advisory task force on campus security.
Student Safety Concerns Run Deep
Jones remains concerned about the impact of these incidents on students’ well-being. "The crime spree has negatively impacted students’ grades and that is a problem for me," she said. "Those cases could have very easily ended up being capital murders. You kill somebody with a knife or a gun while you’re committing a felony, that’s a capital murder."
Town Hall Meeting
The town hall meeting will take place on Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Emancipation Park, located northwest of the UH campus. Jones hopes to serve as a mediator between the students and the university, saying, "I want to listen to their concerns and work with them to find solutions."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the town hall meeting?
A: The purpose of the town hall meeting is to address student safety concerns following recent crimes on the University of Houston campus.
Q: What are the recent crimes?
A: A 40-year-old man was accused of sexually assaulting a female student at knifepoint in a campus parking garage on February 7, and there have been multiple robberies this month, including a pair of scooter thefts.
Q: What is the university doing to address these concerns?
A: The university has enhanced its security protocols, including a 24/7 police presence at the garage where the sexual assault occurred and is expediting an ongoing project to install campus-wide lighting. An advisory task force on campus security is also being created.
Q: What is State Rep. Jolanda Jones’ role in this situation?
A: Jones is hosting the town hall meeting to address student safety concerns and serve as a mediator between the students and the university. She is also a Democrat and UH alumna who has served as a Houston City Council member and Houston ISD trustee.
