Student group leaders scrambled to contact members, hold meetings and discuss potential safety changes Tuesday in response to the attempted sexual assault of a Northwestern student on the Lakefill on Monday night.
In the afternoon, Associated Student Government Student Services Vice President Courtney Brunsfeld met with NU Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis to discuss on-campus safety.
After seeking the input of students, ASG senators and administrators, Brunsfeld said she will push for more on-campus lighting, emergency call boxes and police presence. She said Senate also will promote existing safety resources such as the escort and shuttle services.
“We’ll definitely see a big response from student Senate and student services to press the administration to make this campus feel safer,” said Brunsfeld, a Weinberg junior.
Brunsfeld said she would focus on lighting concerns by compiling a list of on-campus locations where students feel lighting is inadequate.
“According to the Campus Safety (and Crime Prevention) Committee, lighting on campus is adequate right now,” she said. “But you’d hear a different story from students.”
While Brunsfeld brainstormed legislation, the Women’s Coalition and Panhellenic Association took time during regularly scheduled meetings Tuesday evening to address the attack and discuss upcoming measures.
Women’s Co criticized on-campus lighting repeatedly during its Tuesday night meeting.
“Their biggest excuse in the past for not improving lighting is the budget,” said Women’s Co President Laura Millendorf, a Weinberg junior. “It’s really important in the coming months to have a presence to administrators.”
Women’s Co members will stand outside Norris University Center Friday and Monday with cell phones for students to call administrators and complain about on-campus lighting.
The group also decided to circulate a petition, distribute safety information cards and lobby alumni for donations for safety improvements.
“Nobody ever listens to us,” said Women’s Co member Alexis Goldberg, a Speech sophomore. “As devastating as this is to us, maybe now people are listening. I feel sick saying this, but maybe we need to take advantage of this.”
Panhellenic Association representatives also planned to promote safety awareness by making presentations at upcoming chapter meetings.
During their weekly Panhel meeting at Delta Delta Delta, members pledged to promote the escort service and check the feasibility of selling mace.
Panhel President Peggy Yu said she doesn’t always follow safety guidelines such as avoiding running after dark.
“I struggle with this,” said Yu, a Speech senior. “When you think of Take Back the Night, we should be able to run at night, but maybe that’s a false consciousness.”
Sean Thomas, acting associate director of Greek affairs, said students should consider having “Greek Runs,” where groups of students would run together after dark.
The Interfraternity Council, Panhel’s brother organization, will support any Panhel actions, IFC President Phil Ordway said.
“We’ve always encouraged people to walk home and offer rides after late-night (fraternity) events,” said Ordway, an Education senior. “We’ll follow Panhel’s lead. If they want to institute anything more organized, we’ll certainly support that.”
For Members Only focused on different safety concerns Tuesday. An e-mail sent through the FMO listserv told female students to be careful walking and warned black male students to be cautious of backlash, coordinator Tiffany Berry said.
The attacker’s composite sketch, released Tuesday, describes the attacker as a black male aged 25 to 30.
“I’m concerned for the safety of black men on campus, because the description is so general that (many black students) may fall into the description,” said Berry, a Weinberg junior.
