New semester, new approach to student safety

No idea was too bold as long as their was a plan to make it work with the Clean Slate Committee at the College of Charleston.

A mixture of students, administrators and police met once a week this semester to figure out ways to make student life safer. It’s no secret the CofC’s downtown setting presents a challenge to keep students who enjoy the nightlife from being victims of crime on their way home.

In April 4 students were approached by a man with a gun on St. Philip’s street late at night. One of the students was shot, Peter Vagnoni, was shot in the stomach. Police have arrested the suspect Travis Coaxum, he’s in jail on $500,000 bail.

Among the suggestions from students is to add better lighting to areas on the Peninsula that are off-campus but frequently walked by students. The committee wants to try adding a shuttle service from the Market Street area to campus or make improvements to the Safe Ride program which is under-utilized according to committee member Jamar Brown.

The committee wants more late night activities which are alcohol free and more combined efforts by city and campus police to patrol on the weekends.

One of the more interesting findings of the committee is that students said the signs and other literature meant to warn about safety and excessive drinking are too child-like. They want to be treated like adults said chairperson Evie Nadel, the CofC’s associate dean of students.

Brown says, “How will my fellow students respond? I don’t know, only time will tell. I hope they’ll receive the message.“