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Campuses react after shooting
Patrols of Auraria rise, UNC releases list of unwelcome students
By Elena Brown
brownele@mscd.edu

In response to the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, the University of Northern Colorado has turned to the Internet to boost its campus security.

A new webpage lists the names and pictures of those no longer welcome, at anytime, on campus. The individuals listed on the site have been issued a “no trespass order,” also called PNGs, or persona non grata.

“It’s an effort to highlight security on the campus,” UNC spokesman Nate Haas said.

Those on the list include Mitchell Cozad, a former UNC backup punter charged with attempted murder of a rival last year.

“Not all people listed are violent,” Haas said. “Some people on this list have committed violations of school conduct.”

The webpage was added to the UNC Police Security website. UNC also increased security on the campus by including an additional security officer beginning next month. That brings the total number of officers to 15 for the estimated 12,000 students on the UNC campus.

In the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting, campuses have taken steps to increase their level of security. On April 16 a gunman killed 32 students on campus and then committed suicide.

Auraria police have no plans to post unwelcome people on a website. The police department does issue “banning letters” to those unwelcome on campus. As of press time the Auraria police were unable to determine how many people are considered banned from campus.

Campus police have increased campus foot patrol and will host a buddy system to walk people to and from their cars, said Heather Coogan, chief of Auraria police. Although police have increased their visibility, the department has three job openings for officers.

“It takes time to add officers,” Coogan said. “It isn’t done overnight.”

There are 19 officers for the estimated 40,000 students of UCD, CCD and Metro. That’s about one officer for every 2,100 students.

Although the campus isn’t at its full allotment of officers it is one of the safest campuses in the country, Coogan said.

While the campus doesn’t have a website of banned people, they encourage using one of the emergency telephones located in every classroom building to call 911 or (303) 556-5000 to report a crime.

Some students like the idea of having a webpage to access those that have been banned from Auraria.

“I think this is a good idea,” Metro student Amy Roberts said. “This would keep people aware and would be good information to have.”

Other students are taking their safety in their own hands, including UCD theater major Melanie Meers.

“Even though I don’t have a far walk, it’s still creepy at night,” Meers said. “I carry a pocketknife with me and have the Auraria police number in my cell phone.”