By: Gerard Albert/Assistant News Director
A week after a safety walk on the Biscayne Bay campus, faculty and staff have taken measures to enhance student safety on the campus, including extra lights in the parking lot and tree removal.
Parking and transportation added temporary lighting in dim areas of the parking lot while facilities management are working to remove a tree that blocks lighting by the bay.
Students joined faculty and University police for a biannual Safety Walk around the Biscayne Bay campus on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The walk was an opportunity for students to voice their concerns about possible dangers on campus.
Lighting, especially by the bay and in the parking lot, was the main concern for students. Both areas are currently lit by light posts but have ‘blind spots,’ mostly due to trees.
Edward Furnas, director of facilities at BBC, noted student concerns throughout the walk. He listed solutions for each issue that arose. He also acknowledged the need for better lighting.
“We like to listen to students; it gives us a better perspective on safety,” he said.
Furnas acts fast, according to Jefferson Noel, president of the Student Government Council at the Biscayne Bay campus.
Along the walk, Noel pointed out four bright LED lights on the side of the Marine Science building.
After meeting with a Marine Science senator who mentioned the dark area, Furnas and Noel worked to install the lights within a week.
University Police Chief Alexander Casas also attended the walk with other officers. He heard student concerns about patrol cars being more present near Bayview and the park behind it.
“We constantly have officers patrolling the campus,” said Casas. “They help us be preventive instead of reactive.”
About 75 percent of calls made to University Police from BBC are from patrolling officers doing safety checks in different areas, according to Casas.
A police dog patrols the campus during the day and FIUPD provide free 24/7 escort services from campus to parked cars.
Flora Bourdeau, a sophomore political science major living in Bayview, said she was glad representatives from departments like Bayview and Parking and Transportation were in attendance.
“It proves FIU actually listens to its students,” Bourdeau said. “On the other hand, the police department needs to increase its presence on campus, especially in the bay area near Bayview.”
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