FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRESS
www.fsuvoice.oom
The Voice
FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS
September 22, 2010 • Vol. 2, Issue No. 1
Are you feeling safe?
Despite two high-profile incidents, campus crime is down, security is up
By Charnelt Harris
Voice Features Editor
Today is just the first day of fall,
and already this fall semester, the
Fayetteville State University com
munity has experienced a number
of violent incidents.
This has left many administra
tors, staff and students shocked to
hear about such violence on cam
pus.
The first incident was an alleged
assault that occurred on August
22, outside of the University Place
Apartments.
According to an FSU Campus
Police report, early that morning
an FSU student said that as he was
walking, he came across two black
males he thought were going to rob
him. As he started to walk away he
heard gun shots and soon after real
ized that he had been wounded.
The victim, according to the re
port, was unsure if the wound was
- caused by the two suspects or by
his own weapon that he admitted to
carrying in his back pocket.
Although the incident is still
under investigation the student is
expected to be charged with posses
sion of a weapon on campus.
The second major incident hap
pened in the parking lot of New
Residence FFall which became a
crime scene when a car was inteni-
onally burned on August 28.
According to campus police re
ports, around 9 p.m., a black male
was seen throwing a burning article
into the vehicle.
Th^ witness told campus police
that the alleged perpetrator fled in a
light blue or silver pickup truck.
Campus police don’t believe that
Voice photo by Nathaniel Stevenson
Walking outside of University Place Apartments, FSU officers, Barrie Robinson, at left, and Matthew
Jacobs patrol last week during school hours.
the two incidents are related. They
are both currently under investiga
tion.
Nevertheless, these incidents
have caused some students to feel
a little uneasy about their safety on
campus.
“I try to do everything during the
day because you don’t know what is
out there,” said FSU student Sandra
McSwain.
“They have the call boxes, but
as far as seeing the police, I hardly
ever see them. If something was to
happen how are they [Campus Po
lice] going to get to me on time?”
said fi-eshman Brooke Vann.
Others have shared the complaint
that they rarely see campus security
at what is believed to l)e the peak
See SAFETY, page 5
What do
you think?
The Voice is only as
strong as yours. jQin the
, conversation online at
www.fsuvoice.com or
send us your letter to the
editor (see page 10).
Protect your
most valuable
asset - yourself
By Tiffinei Lee
Voice Staff Writer
Since the Virginia Tech shoot
ing, safety on college campuses
has become a high priority. With
the recent shooting at University
Place Apartments fi'esh in students’
minds, they may be wondering how
to protect themselves while on cam
pus.
Fayetteville State University Po
lice officials and students have sev
eral suggestions to keep you safe.
“Walk in numbers, walk proudly
and be aware of everything around
you,” advises FSU Police Chief
Travis Bryant.
The university, Chief Bryant
said, is “promoting enhanced safety
patrols with more officers, educat-
See TIPS, page 3
4 tips to be safe
• Be fully aware of “tall-
gaters”, or people who follow
you into your residence area.
• Always close the door
quickly and ensure it locks
behind you.
• Never give out your keys to
anyone.
• If you are leaving on a break
or vacation, take your valu
ables with you.
~ FSU Police Chief Bryant
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