A security boost is in the works at the University of Manitoba after a few high-profile security scares on its Fort Garry campus late last year.
Ruth Adjetey has been a student at the university for about three years. She said she felt relatively safe on campus, but that all changed last fall.
“It was a little concerning to me after all the incidents that happened last semester,” she told CTV News Winnipeg.
In October, a student was assaulted when a man broke into her dorm room around 4:30 in the morning.
Weeks later police swarmed the campus for reports of a man armed with a knife – a threat police later said was unsubstantiated.
Months later, those incidents have left students like Adjetey shaken.
“As a student, I felt very threatened. I didn’t feel too safe walking about, especially by myself.”
That’s why the U of M has been hosting open houses, highlighting security initiatives on campus.
“It was important to really rally our community together and talk about that incident and talk about what’s going with on security and then safety on campus,” said Gordon Perrier, director of the university’s campus safety and security services.
He said there are several efforts in the works – like replacing and upgrading 255 security cameras, improving lighting, and installing new high-visibility security poles with cameras and a direct line to security 24-hours a day.
Along with the security measures, the U of M has been encouraging students to download the UM Safe app with security resources and contact.
Perrier said right now the app has about 12,000 subscribers, but he hopes to see that increased to 40,000.
While some of these initiatives were in the works prior to the security incidents late last year, Perrier said they did prompt a conversation.
“We know things could have been better in some of our other incidences, and we’re really trying to interconnect all our systems to make them better, more effective and more service oriented towards our community,” he said.
The improvements are a step in the right direction for the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU).
“I think that trust and that relationship building is going to continue to happen,” UMSU President Divya Sharma said.
“I think that’s what is needed to make sure that our campus is a safe, trusted place for everyone who comes here, whether that’s students, staff and faculty.”
