Brenda Morales-Pico
Institute-Wide Committees Chair
School of Chemistry & Biochemistry Representative
Student Government Association

On the evening of August 27, about 350 members of the Georgia Tech community gathered in the Student Center Ballroom for the Student Government Association's Crime Prevention and Awareness Night. Alina Staskevicius, the undergraduate student body president, opened the event with a few remarks, emphasizing that the goal of the event was to make students aware, rather than fearful, of the crimes that have been occurring around the Georgia Tech campus as well as provide guests with crime prevention tips to promote safety both on and off campus.

Patrick Whaley, a mechanical engineering student in his fifth year at Georgia Tech, spoke about his run-in with crime last spring. In May, Whaley was shot in an attempted carjacking that occurred in an apartment complex a few blocks away from campus. As a former bodybuilder, Whaley told students that he used to feel invincible and immune to criminal acts. In acknowledging that the police cannot be everywhere at all times, he encouraged students to take responsibility for their personal safety. "We can all work together to make this campus as safe as we want it to be," he said.

Chief Crocker and several officers from the Georgia Tech Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit echoed Whaley's remarks. A representative from the Atlanta Police Department encouraged students living off campus to increase the lighting and trim shrubbery around their homes in order to create well-lit open areas, and demand that landlords to maintain their properties. He also reported that Home Park, the neighborhood directly north of campus, is organizing a neighborhood watch.

The Student Government Association and Safety Task Force distributed safety whistles and fliers containing safety and crime prevention tips at the event. Georgia Tech Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit echoed Whaley's remarks. A representative from the Atlanta Police Department encouraged students living off campus to increase the lighting and trim shrubbery around their homes in order to create well-lit open areas, and demand that landlords to maintain their properties. He also reported that Home Park, the neighborhood directly north of campus, is organizing a neighborhood watch.

The Student Government Association and Safety Task Force distributed safety whistles and fliers containing safety and crime prevention tips at the event.