University of Houston Expedites Campus Security Project After Spike in Crime and Student Demands
A Response to Student Concerns
A University of Houston student holds up a sign during a protest about campus safety on Feb. 12, 2025.
The University of Houston is expediting the second phase of an $18 million campus security project in response to a spike in campus crime and demands for additional safety measures.
Fast-Tracking Security Upgrades
After approval by the board of regents last week, the university is fast-tracking a project aimed at installing 400 new lighting assets and nearly 200 surveillance cameras across the Third Ward campus.
“By fast-tracking phase two, we are addressing priority areas of campus and reinforcing our commitment to safety and ensuring that our campus community benefits from enhanced security measures as soon as possible,” Raymond Bartlett, the university’s senior vice president for administration and finance, said in a statement.
“This project is a significant step in creating a safe environment for all,” he added.
First Phase Complete, Second Phase Underway
The first phase of the project, which focused on residential housing and perimeter parking areas, is nearly complete, according to the university. The second phase will upgrade four lots in the residential district and nine others across campus.
The project will install 42 emergency call stations and security kiosks.
Student Demands and Protest
The decision to expedite the security project comes weeks after three robberies and an aggravated sexual assault were reported on campus. The crime uptick prompted a campus-wide protest Feb. 12, when students chanted about safety concerns and demands, as well as a town hall meeting held last Friday by state Rep. Jolanda Jones.
By the end of the protest, dozens of pieces of paper echoing safety demands were plastered to the doors of the Ezekiel Cullen Building, where the board of regents gathers.
The list of demands urges the university to establish a sexual health task force composed of students and faculty to address issues related to sexual violence and prevention, and restore free self-defense classes previously offered by UH.
Mina Vuong, a university senior who helped organize the protest, called the $18 million security project “so costly with unsatisfying results.”
“The university reports the lighting and security project as an achievement, but to students it’s a joke,” Vuong said. “Poor lighting has been one of the biggest student safety concerns yet the university believes their slow and expensive project is something to boast about.”
Conclusion
The University of Houston’s decision to expedite the second phase of its campus security project is a significant step in addressing student concerns about safety. The project’s focus on installing 400 new lighting assets and nearly 200 surveillance cameras across the Third Ward campus is a response to the recent spike in campus crime and student demands for additional safety measures.
FAQs
Q: Why is the University of Houston expediting the second phase of its campus security project?
A: The university is expediting the second phase of its campus security project in response to a spike in campus crime and demands for additional safety measures.
Q: What is the scope of the security project?
A: The project will install 400 new lighting assets and nearly 200 surveillance cameras across the Third Ward campus.
Q: What is the timeline for the project’s completion?
A: The first phase of the project is nearly complete, and the second phase is underway. The project is expected to be completed in the near future.
Q: What are the student demands?
A: The student demands include the establishment of a sexual health task force composed of students and faculty to address issues related to sexual violence and prevention, and the restoration of free self-defense classes previously offered by UH.
