By Nachalie Rodriguez –

Is NJCU as safe as we think? NJCU is located in one of the most urban and densely populated cities. Cityrating.com statistic summary reports for 2012 show that Jersey City is expecting a rise in robbery, larceny and theft.

The main concern is what has NJCU’s Public Safety Department done in the past, present and in the future to secure the safety of the students and staff?

”We always feel that public safety can do better, we always raise the bar to enter more technology to increase the number of cameras, card access, lighting around campus and our Knight Rider program,” says Bruce D. Harman, Director of Public Safety at NJCU.

There are over 100 cameras on campus to secure students’ safety. Harman suggests that more workshops on crime prevention and streets smarts would be very useful. Harman also said that for the last ten years crimes at the NJCU campus have remained flat and consistently low over the years.

Some students may not feel as though enough is being done, such as Suzana Nereu, a NJCU student who experienced a man trying to steal a girl’s bag and says, “I think the campus is too open and anyone can just walk around and do whatever they want. There isn’t enough security walking or driving around. We definitely need more people around campus and randomly checking IDs.”

Luckily the NJCU Public Safety Department has not faced a significant reduction in staff, but one issue that the department has faced is the budget. Low budgets may mean less vigilance and not enough security on campus.

“I feel safe around campus because I park close to the building that my classes are in. I don’t really have time to explore campus, I only attend school two nights a week, but I never see public safety walking around campus or patrolling the parking garage. I think public safety could make themselves more visible so students feel a bit safer,” says Dana Smith, 30, English major from Jersey City.

Perhaps more advertisements such as flyer distributions letting student know all 12 + NJCU Emergency contact numbers can help students feel safer. Fortunately, Public Safety Security is on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but taking the initiative to advertise the resources that NJCU provides such as: The Silent Witness Program, which allows students and staff to submit any criminal activity anonymously, Guides and Tips to provide students with what to do and what not to do, The Knight Rider Survey which transports students to another campus if needed, Campus Escort Services, Vehicle Jumpstart Services and Gothic Alerts, which notify students and staff of any criminal activity that has occurred, may continue to reduce the most common crimes around NJCU campus.