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UBC: Security tightened after last year’s assaults

The RCMP have received more than 200 tips since police released a composite sketch Nov. 5 of the man reported to have sexually assaulted six women at the University of B.C. The attacks occurred between April 19 and Oct. 27 last year. Sgt.
UBC security
Emergency blue phones in use at the UBC campus. photo: Dan Toulgoet

The RCMP have received more than 200 tips since police released a composite sketch Nov. 5 of the man reported to have sexually assaulted six women at the University of B.C. The attacks occurred between April 19 and Oct. 27 last year.

Sgt. Peter Thiessen says the RCMP has a team of full-time major crimes investigators on the case. Investigators continue to identify persons of interest and Thiessen wouldn’t say how many are on this list.

Barry Eccleton, director of security at UBC, is leading a task force on campus security that includes representatives of staff, students and faculty.

The committee is discussing security cameras, night walking routes, the Alma Mater Society’s Safewalk program, identifying where night shift workers are situated, where students study at night, and safety apps for smartphones.

Eccleton said the committee needs to consider what value closed circuit TV cameras would add to the campus.

“For investigative purposes, after the fact, [recordings] can be very helpful,” he said.

“For prevention purposes, they would need to be monitored and we have to look at the size of campus.”

UBC spans more than 1,000 acres.

“And it’s very porous, so trying to contain the campus is a real challenge,” Eccleton said, adding campus security works closely with RCMP officers who are only two minutes away.

Eccleton said the reported sexual assaults occurred at different locations around campus.

Safety apps could provide students a campus security line at their fingertips instead of having to run to one of the approximately 20 blue security phones at UBC.

He expects to present recommendations from the task force to UBC’s president and executive by mid March, after a period of community consultations.

“Safety for the community is the university’s top priority,” Eccleton said.

Campus security has increased its patrols since October and contracted a company to patrol around the residences. Eccleton believes this contract has been extended through March.

The AMS Safewalk extended its hours, a walk around residences was started and fraternities told students to knock on their doors if they wanted assistance.

Lights around campus that grew dimmer as nights wore on as part of an energy-saving initiative will operate throughout the night at full capacity for the foreseeable future, said Eccleton.

The AMS’s Sexual Assault Support Centre at UBC served an influx of students wanting to talk about sexual assault this fall, says the centre’s manager, Anisa Mottahed. She said students appear to be feeling less frightened but, with no new news, uncertainty remains.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is happening now for the fourth year at UBC.

Events include:

  • a community café on creating a safer campus, Jan. 21
  • a public workshop on rape culture, Jan. 23
  • a talk on how participants can make a difference against sexual assault, Jan 23
  • a lecture on proving masculinity on the university campus, Jan 29
  • a roundtable on rape culture and politics, Jan 29
  • a public workshop on drinking, consent and sexual assault, Jan. 30.

To see the sketch and description of the sexual assault suspect, see ubc.ca/staysafe. For more information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, see gotconsent.ca.

Calls to the Safewalk were not returned.

crossi@vancourier.com
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