The Public Safety Task Force of the Diplomatic Congress held a student-run forum to discuss the actions the Department of Public Safety is taking to improve student-officer relations and overall security Wednesday.
The Public Safety Task Force of the Diplomatic Congress held a student-run forum to discuss the actions the Department of Public Safety is taking to improve student-officer relations and overall security Wednesday.
No officers from the Department of Public Safety were present in an effort to make students more comfortable in coming forward with their concerns.
Juliann Jefferson ’14, the chair of the Public Safety Task Force, organized the discussion and then acted as moderator as she led the discussion.
Although many attendees were in elected positions, all F&M students were invited to ask questions, offer suggestions, and voice their concerns.
The topics of discussion included small changes planned for the upcoming semester, including more distribution of flyers containing safety tips and the restoration of security cameras in College Row.
The central theme of the forum was the relationship between students and Public Safety officers. Jefferson emphasized the goal of the Task Force is to get students and officers working towards the same goals and to also correct the assumption that officers are out to bust students.
Mark Harmon-Vaught, first-year representative of the Brooks College House Congress, offered insight on this false impression.
“It’s a matter of changing perceptions, the solution is to get them to be seen as humans, not this impenetrable force out to ruin parties,” he said.
Jefferson mentioned some upcoming changes intended to bridge the gap between students and the Department. She said next year’s first-year class should expect a more personal introduction to Public Safety officers, with the intention of creating a positive relationship during orientation.
Perhaps even more exciting, Public Safety will be offering “student ride-alongs” Friday and Saturday nights starting next semester. Participating students will shadow an officer, getting a first-hand look at what officers do in the station, on the road, and how they react to calls.
Emphasis was put on the Department’s desire to attend campus activities off-duty.
A student quoted an officer saying, “I would have been at Alpha Male if I’d known about it,” demonstrating that officers want to be involved on campus, both in and out of uniform.
In her closing remarks, Jefferson expressed the important role the student body plays in the success of the Task Force.
“We just want students to realize that the officers put our safety above everything else,” she said. “Once this happens, we will start to see the positive relationship we’ve been working for.”
Jefferson, welcomes all questions and concerns regarding the Department of Public Safety or the Public Safety Task Force. Her email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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