While crime reports are down in comparison to the start of the last school year, students remain fearful because of the increase in violent on-campus attacks.
And some students, in light of recent attacks, are going as far as to take safety into their own hands.
"I carry pepper spray on me..." said Amanda Chiacchia, a sophomore English and history education major. "I have day classes so it's not as disconcerting for me, but I still have everything I need to defend myself on me."
Overall crime has decreased since the beginning of the fall 2007 semester, when a rash of robberies were reported on and near South Campus, according to Chief of University Police Gerald Schoenle.
"In terms of rapes and sexual assaults, because of the two [rapes] that occurred on South Campus and then because we had no sex assaults on South Campus last semester, those crimes are up," Schoenle said. "But I believe in the area surrounding South Campus, crime is actively down. Last year we had several robberies reported in the University Heights and this year we only have had a couple reported thus far."
Despite these statistics, students are still worried because of the severity of recent attacks.
"It puts a thought in the back of your head," said John Stobnicki, a junior geology major.
There has been no progress in the investigations of the two rapes that have occurred on South Campus since the beginning of the semester.
An alleged physical assault occurred early Sunday morning when a male student was reportedly attacked shortly after getting out of a cab on Core Road. The University Police Department is looking into whether the attack was actually an assault.
"We have one rape of a non-student, one of a student and one assault that happened Sunday morning," Schoenle said. "We just had a second interview with the individual from Sunday morning and he reported that he was pretty highly intoxicated at the time ... We're not completely sure how much of an assault it really was, by his own admission ... he's not sure if he was actually pushed or if he fell - he thinks there was some sort of confrontation, but we're not sure."
Schoenle said that police presence was temporarily increased on South Campus in hope of preventing these crimes.
"We basically doubled our patrols on the South Campus for a period of time," he said.
Chiacchia, like many others, feel that on-campus crime has hit close to home this semester. Rapes and assaults have brought campus safety to the forefront of student concerns.
"It's really scary because it's real and it does happen," Chiacchia said. "People should be aware or more protected. Pretty much anything could be a threat - muggings, assaults rapes - anything could happen, especially at night."
Schoenle said that crime in the University Heights isn't impacting students as severely as it has at the start of other academic years. Last September, when students were being robbed night after night, the Buffalo Police had a robbery detail and a quality of life detail working in the evening hours in the Heights.
"That seemed to be making a difference," he said. "Hopefully, the things students are doing to protect themselves and the increased police presence will make a difference."
Schoenle also noted that the $5.3 million South Campus infrastructure project includes lighting improvements, new blue light phones and 76 new security cameras, all of which should reduce the prevalence of campus crime.
"All those things should make a big difference when it comes to campus safety," Schoenle said.
Students like Stobnicki said that lighting on South Campus is a major concern.
"That campus is dark," Stobnicki said. "It's kind of stoic, it's older, it's dark and the parking lots are pretty far from the classroom areas. But overall, it's just not in a great neighborhood."
Stobnicki noted that South Campus is located near the intersections of Main Street and Bailey Avenue and that the area surrounding this intersection and behind South Campus is notoriously dangerous.
"It's probably one of the worst areas in Buffalo, and it's literally 10 minutes away," Stobnicki said.
According to Jane Fischer, director of SBI Health Education, the Anti-Rape Task Force and SBI provide a variety of alternatives to dangerous behavior, no matter the time of day.
South Campus shuttles run from 8 p.m. until midnight, seven days a week. Walk stations run on both campuses Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. until midnight.
"We hope to have, as of this week, both of these operating. North has been operating, but South is just starting up. But all of these services are contingent on people being there to work [the stations]," Fischer said.
Staffing for the walk stations and shuttles are a major problem, Fischer said. Shuttle drivers are volunteers, paid staff and work-study students - the volunteers who drive and navigate the shuttles are not students serving community service, she said. Sometimes, personal safety assistants will serve as navigators for the shuttles.
In light of recent attacks, more students have been volunteering for the shuttle services.
"We have had an influx but what we need is for people to keep this going every day," Fischer said.
Currently, 10 to 15 people staff the shuttles. Fischer believes that a more reliable staff would allow the shuttle services to be offered consistently.
"What we do require is human resources. It's not so much that we don't have the money as much as we need the people," she said.
Stobnicki said that because crime has moved on campus, the community is finally starting to pay attention to how dangerous the area surrounding South Campus is.
"I grew up around [the University Heights] and I don't really feel safe in that area. You can't even walk around by yourself and be safe," he said. "It seems like these crimes are now more reported though... Because it's a block over [and happening on campus] people are trying to get more involved in trying to do something about it."
Despite feeling unsafe, students are unsure of what else can be done by the University Police to increase campus safety.
"I don't think there's anything that can be done. They're on a budget, and everything is controlled by the flow of money," Stobnicki said. "What it comes down to is making more money to go to the University Police so they could make more patrols."
Fischer recommends using common sense and traveling as a group.
"This is not a time nor a place where we would encourage letting your friend walk home from a party or leaving a friend to walk by themselves," she said, recommending that students carry with them the phone number of a cab company that takes Campus Cash.
Students should also familiarize themselves with the shuttle and walk services offered, she said.
"Victims can't prevent rape but they can reduce risk," Fischer said. "Take time to familiarize yourself with services and resources and whether it's putting a slip of paper in your wallet with the shuttle times or a cab company's phone number, plan ahead and know how you're getting home beforehand."
Schoenle said that students should never walk alone and to drink responsibly.
"Our campus is as safe as ever," Schoenle said.
Additional reporting by Wen Chien Lee, Staff Writer
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
