The results of a YUSU Survey published last week have revealed the extent to which students in York feel unsafe on campus, particularly late at night.
The Safer Campus Survey revealed that shockingly over 55% of students are concerned about security on campus despite improvements made recently to lighting and CCTV.
YUSU Welfare Officer Bob Hughes and Women’s Officer Emma Hawkens put the survey together to identify student perceptions and experiences of safety and security in and around the campus. They will be using the results to build new campaigns and lobby the University for improvements.
The Survey, which was advertised through Facebook and Twitter, had 376 respondents and unsurprisingly revealed that students feel the most unsafe in Halifax and Fairfax House, with over 30% stating that they felt somewhat or very unsafe in both areas. The Library and Market Square were considered to be the safest areas.
The principal factors that contributed to these perceptions were poor lighting, security presence and history of crime. Vision has previously reported on the crime in and around Fairfax House, including burglaries and room invasions.
Open comments in the survey reveal the greater extent to which students are worried about security and particularly lighting, with one student even stating that “Halifax is terrifying at night!”
The survey also looked at the routes people take to and from campus. Retreat Lane, Walmgate Stray and Windmill Lane were identified as areas that needed immediate improvement.
Walmgate Stray connects Wentworth to Fulford and currently has no street lights on it at all. One student commented, highlighting the danger: “Many people use it and aside from the criminal risk, there is a physical risk for both walkers and cyclists using the path. I have witnessed numerous situations where people have nearly been run into.”
75% of students said that lighting was ‘very important’ to them feeling safe on campus. Second year Social and Political Sciences student Anna McGivern expressed dissatisfaction with the state of lighting on campus: “Some parts of campus are great, but they need to do more. Especially in Halifax – some parts are pitch black at night!”
According to the survey, female students were significantly more likely to be worried about lighting on campus and other safety issues. Recent YouGov surveys revealed that 43% of women aged 18 to 34 suffered from harassment in public places, particularly late at night. The University is no exception, with recent reports in The York Press telling of a 20-year old being flashed early in the morning on Walmgate Stray.
Second-year student Katie Coates told Vision that she felt with 24/7 library opening hours that “the University needs to wake up to the fact that lots of female students are going to be walking home late at night. Perhaps they should start a late night bus service?”
However, despite the perception of insecurity, the crime statistics released by the University in March showed that crime has actually fallen on campus. In the period October to February crime decreased by 28% compared to last year.
YUSU Welfare Officer Bob Hughes spoke to Vision. “I think the results of the recent Safer Campus survey are incredibly valuable in looking at students’ perception of safety on campus – especially considering how they differ from the University’s crime statistics.”
“The strong feeling of a lack of safety can have a large impact on students’ experience and wellbeing at University, as well as making some crimes harder to report and escape from. I will be continuing to work with the University to push for improved lighting and security provision across the University and the wider area.”