UW-Madison, Greek community host safety forum

Students, faculty and staff are invited to a special campus forum to discuss downtown safety issues in the wake of a string of recent armed robberies.

The session will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Media Room of the Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym), 716 Langdon St.

The event will bring together members of the Greek community, Madison and UW police, Dean of Students Lori Berquam, the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) and alder Eli Judge. Other invitees include Rene Gonzalez, Langdon Street Neighborhood Officer; representatives of SAFE Nighttime Services; the Langdon Street Watch; and Capitol Neighborhoods Association.

Attendees can expect short briefings on the state of the investigation into the string of attacks, but the bulk of the session will be set aside for discussion and problem-solving ideas from the audience.

“We want to identify action items that we can make progress toward for the safety of the entire campus community,” Berquam says.

The most recent incident occurred on Nov. 3, when a 20-year-old UW–Madison sorority member reported to Madison police that she had been robbed at gunpoint while walking in a parking lot near her residence on the 100 block of Langdon Street.

Among the tips UWPD and Berquam have been stressing in recent weeks:

• Unplug your headphones and be observant.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Walk with friends after dark.
• Better to give up valuables if confronted than resist and risk potential injury.
• Intoxication may increase your risk of being a victim.
• Make use of campus resources such as SAFEwalk, SAFEride and Chimera courses.

For more safety information, visit this site or call (608) 264-COPS.