Written by Heather Priestley
Virginia Tech has certainly not forgotten the events of April 16, 2007. The Hokie community was devastated and shocked that such a tragedy could occur in such a peaceful little town. However, Virginia Tech has always had a very safe campus, and that did not change with the events of that day. If anything, it has served to make the campus an even safer place, as officials responded by heightening campus security measures to ensure students’ safety. The University initiated the VT Alerts system that notifies students almost immediately of emergencies or other important information by several methods, including text messages, e-mails, phone calls, and classroom message boards, and all dorms are now locked 24 hours a day.
The crime rate in Blacksburg is well below the national average, and though a few petty thefts and other small crimes do occur, students feel very safe at Tech. The VT Alerts system is able to notify students quickly if an incident should occur. The Safe Ride program is available to get students safely to their car or dorm after dark. Sidewalks are well lit, emergency phones can be found at almost every corner, and both the VT and Blacksburg Police keep a friendly but watchful eye over campus at all times. The University goes to great lengths to ensure the safety of its students. Students should, of course, be aware of what is going on around them and avoid risky situations, but with a little common sense, there is no need to be concerned about safety at Virginia Tech.