The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Old Dominion University student Melissa Flippo was mugged at gunpoint on campus four years ago, an incident that left her with a fear that still affects her.
"I'm scared, I'm terrified," Flippo said. "I try not to take night classes."
Now a recent wave of crime on and near campus has left Flippo and other students on edge. Since the beginning of the fall semester, five robberies have been recorded, according to ODU's daily crime log. That compares with seven robberies across the campus in all of 2008. The most recent robbery was Tuesday night outside the Mills Godwin Building and library, according to a campus safety alert. A day later, ODU
President John R. Broderick said in a letter sent out around the campus that he has authorized deploying
Norfolk Sheriff's Department deputies for additional security and patrols.
In August, the Norfolk City Council gave City Manager Regina V.K. Williams informal approval to negotiate an agreement with ODU to jointly develop a police precinct. It would serve as ODU's police headquarters and be the city's new 3rd Precinct.
Statewide, there has been a spate of crimes on college campuses this academic year. Those in the ODU community say the best safety measures are taking precautions and staying alert.
Hayven Guy, manager of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in University Village, said she's worried about the crimes but has heard different opinions.
"People are either concerned about it or they... don't think it will happen to them," Guy said.
Garin Summerlin, manager of CyberCriter Internet Lounge in the Village, said that although he wasn't aware of the rash of crimes, he's not worried about safety because his business has alarm systems and he sees police in the area.
"I feel pretty safe," he said.
ODU graduate student Gregory Hodges leaves class at about 10 several nights a week. Hodges said that although he has seen police patrolling University Village during the day, he hasn't seen many when he gets out of class. He's noticed more students walking in pairs.
"I'm cautious because I know what's going on around me," Hodges said. "I try not to make myself an easy target."
Flippo has that same mentality. She has Mace spray, owns a stun gun and doesn't carry cash.
"Be aware of your surroundings," she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
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Not so Fast
I did a crime view of all the crimes around ODU since July 2010, 85% of all crimes have happen at houses off campus. I think you guys really need to get the facts before you destroy an agency. You say you don't see a police officer well maybe the criminals do and that's why there aren't so many crimes ON CAMPUS. Sorry if you feel that you don't get escorts to your house on 27th street, read your guides and paperwork that you recieved when you arrived on campus. I talked to a few Officers because my daughter goes there, he says come by campus and just watch yourself. KIDS you have to have some since of security for yourselves, stop walking with earplugs in your ears and not watching your surroundings.I feel for you I want you to be safe but instead of blameing others let's join in together to beat these criminals.
Theory of Ignorance
To the person who stigmatizes people based on the racial elements of deprivation. Crime if you are not ignorant has no bearings on all people who make minimum wages, live in subsidized housing, or who are Black. Wheter or not statistics are ever looked at crime and the criminal elements of society produce white criminal just as well as black criminals. If the perpetrators of these robberies are of African-American descent, then by all means punish them to the full extent of the law. But we must remember some years ago a young Black man from the Lambert's Point area was convicted by the Norfolk Police Department for raping 'white females' and spent most of his adult life in prison for a crime he never committed. But years later through DNA the public found out that this young Black man did not commit the crimes and the person who committed the crimes did not even live in the area surrounding ODU.
So in forming our analogy of who committed these crimes, we should not be so quick to judge the area or people where a crime takes place based on ethnicity and economics.
ODU security has a long way to go
Can you tell me why 3 Odu cops responded to a noise complaint last night in one of the dorms? how convenient that when someone has friends over and they get too loud security rushes over but they are rarely around when we need them. Most Odu officers that I see tend to be overweight and on their segways. I find it ironic that the university continues to spend our tuition money on football,parking garages & a new house for the President but is unable to offer us safety. There are countless parts of campus that are poorly lit and rarely patrolled. Campus police won't escort students that live in the community either. Even when some of the students living "off-campus" live closer to Odu then students in the Village. I find it surprisingly odd that they constantly sit on colley and other parts of Norfolk that are not associated with campus. There was a shooting locally at an odu party that students were never informed of. An odu student got kicked out of a house party and returned with a gun and opened fire...where was security, or our Odu alert. Our Odu alerts often arrive 30 minutes to an hour after the incident, if not longer. How are we supposed to protect ourselves from armed robb
If you feel that your
If you feel that your University is not doing all it can to make you safe, why are you at a house party doing the shooting. Anything crimes that happen off campus ae handled by the NPD. Their number is 911, everyone wants to blame the ODUPD for what is happening around your campus. You kids are off the chain, you drink underage and now you want a baby sitter. I live in this community, I'm so upset that ODU is not patrolling my community because of the safety issues on campus. You have over 15,000 kids on campus over a week, you say you never see the police, believe me THEY SEE U.
2009 crime?
The article compares incidents so far this year with 2008. How does it compare with last year -- 2009?
What do you expect.......
.......when your campus is surrounded by low rent tenants, section 8 housing, public housing and plenty of thugs........another name for punks IMO.
sheep surrounded by wolves
And the wolves normally include the bleeding heart VP moderators. Our children who attend ODU are targeted by predators. No, not sexual predators, social justice predators.
In Colonial days, predators (mountain lions, wolves, bears and coyotes) were exterminated. In modern times, our predators are fed, housed, and provided medical care.
Tearing down habitat
Anytime you tear down the jungle for civilization you get animal attacks. You must do something with these animals, relocate or euthanize.
Need to build a "Great Wall"
Need to build a "Great Wall" around ODU with guarded gate access only, to really make it safe. That's not likely to happen, so you need lots of lights, visible cops, liberal placement of emergency call boxes and vigilant citizens. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings! If you see a suspicious person, head to the nearest box and report it whether you're in doubt or not.
I think it's funny
how everyone talks about bringing a gun on campus and how ODU won't let you. It's not just ODU, it's a state law that guns are not allowed on Campus and for good reason. People who aren't trained to handle hand guns and a crowded classroom are not the place to learn how to use a hand gun. I have my permit but would never think about bringing it to campus. but also I am not stupid enough to leave all my stuff sitting in a crowded student center and go to the bathroom and think all my stuff is going to be there when I got back... Students may be very smart but they aren't very bright when it comes to their own safety.