The tragic death of Yale medical student Annie Le brought the issue of safety on college campuses right back into the forefront.
Recent murders at Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn.and a string of sexual assaults at Hofstra have also raised awareness of the issue.
Le, 24, disappeared on Sept. 8, five days before she was going to marry her college sweetheart. On Sept. 14 her body was discovered inside a wall in a Yale medical school building and her death was ruled a homicide.
While Fairfield University has earned honors for its campus safety, the death of Le and other recent tragedies on college campuses bring to light the fact that students themselves must remain vigilant about their own safety.
Le herself wrote an article in the Yale medical school about the safety of students on the New Haven campus. She said that students must “avoid portraying themselves as a potential victim.”
One area of concern each year for Fairfield University administration, students and the town police force alike is the safety of students who travel to the beach in flocks on weekends, and those who live there. It is not a secret that each weekend Fairfield students flood the Reef and Fairfield Beach Rd., leaving open the possibility for those without those students best intentions in mind to go there as well.
As beach residents leave back doors unlocked and stumble down to the Seagrape, burglaries are common. Sexual assaults are also another common problem. While luckily no Fairfield student has been involved in a local murder, the possibility is always there.
Campus, and off-campus, security must start with the students. Taking precautions and being aware are two forms of advise usually doled out by police and campus security around the country.
While Fairfield’s security is as advanced as ever, with patrols and cameras, it is impossible to secure the safety of every students, especially when those students are often trying to avoid those employed with the purpose of protecting them.
Le’s murder is tragic and potentially unavoidable, and no blame should be placed on her. But her death reminds all students that they must watch out for themselves, because despite being in a bubble, crime and tragedy can still enter.
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