Campus safety still an issue at ACC

In light of the Oct. 25 stabbing of student Rita Pena near Austin Community College's Rio Grande campus at the corner of 10th and Rio Grande Streets, campus safety is an issue on the minds of ACC students and staff alike.

Part of the concern is due to limited access to parking at ACC's Rio Grande campus. Many students are left with no option but to park off campus, sometimes walking blocks to and from class in what some students say are less-than-adequate conditions.

Iris Kremer, a student in ACC's secondary education program, says, "I mostly come here in the daytime, but there really isn't a lot of lighting at night."

ACC Police Chief Frankie Waller said, "It is a reality that persons visiting a campus must at times park in areas that are not under the direct control of the College. The College Police Department attempts to maintain close working relationships with the police jurisdictions that surround the campuses in order to coordinate security activities."

The recent stabbing, which received heavy media coverage in Austin, has drawn the attention of ACC police, who were already in the process of instituting heightened security measures when the event occurred.

"As a part of the effort of the College to enhance safety for all concerned, Austin Community College Police Department Lieutenant Michael McCradic has been tasked with developing and implementing student safety awareness programs for the college," said Waller. "[We are] coordinating and facilitating crime prevention programs on campuses and coordinating victim services activities for the College Police Department. These programs should be fully implemented in the near future."

Waller reports that records from the years 2003-2006 do not reflect any occurrence of aggravated assault, sexual assault or murder on any ACC campus, adding that "The safety and welfare of those on our campuses is a priority for the College at all times."

The ACC police department currently employs 29 full time officers, 3 part time officers, and 6 noncommissioned "Safety Officers" that serve all seven campuses. However, the areas surrounding the campus fall under the jurisdiction of Austin Police.

Following the stabbing, signs reading "See Something, Say Something", along with phone numbers to reach police in the event of an emergency have been posted in hallways, bathrooms and other locations on ACC campuses. However, some students feel that the campaign, intended to raise awareness about campus safety, is a case of too little, too late.

"I think it's sad that the posters are just popping up now, I think that's something that should have been up before, not after the [stabbing] occurred," Kremer said.

The stabbing victim, 25-year-old Rita Pena, sustained numerous lacerations to her arms, chest and a life-threatening wound to the neck as she was getting into her car a near ACC's Rio Grande campus. She has recovered but does not intend to return to the campus, according to an interview conducted by Austin's KVUE-TV.

Alleged assailant Reginald Cooper, 23, was set to appear in 167th District Court Dec. 7 at 9:00 a.m., charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.