Safety on the HutchCC campus ◄ In order to evaluate campus lighting, the Student Government Association and Campus Security conducts a safety walk. The annual walk was planned for Feb. 26. Photo by Sydney Henke
Sydney Henke, Reporter & Designer
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afety is an important thing, whenever one goes anywhere they want to be safe. When choosing a college, safety can be a deciding factor. If students don’t feel safe, they cannot be comfortable. When 45 students were asked if they ever felt uncomfortable on the Hutchinson Community College campus, 44.4% said yes. There is currently a student cadet program, but HutchCC does not have any student cadets. Anyone interested can put in an application through Human Resources. A student cadet is similar to a part-time
student working in HR or admissions, but a cadet is a student who works part time for the security department. Student cadets conduct walking patrols around campus assisting staff, students, and visitors. They observe what is occurring around campus and report to the proper department concerning safety issues. If they discover suspicious activity occurring, they are not expected to address the activity themselves, but report it to the police or campus security. After hours they can escort students or staff to the dorms or their vehicles if they don’t feel
safe walking alone. “Once a year, a campus safety walk is conducted with staff and students from SGA [Student Government Association] to hear firsthand what safety concerns they have and their ideas to solve them,” David Maness, Coordinator of Campus Safety, said. Safety is taken seriously at HutchCC. There are many ways students can stay safe on campus. During the fall semester, a selfdefense class was put on by members of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. “HutchCC has a safety and security committee that meets once a month. Safety concerns are brought before the committee who prioritize those concerns and find solutions to them,” Maness said. Out of the 45 students surveyed, 37 percent said they carried a self-defense weapon. “I carry pepper spray with me,” Madison Richards, Wichita, said. “Generally speaking, from a personal safety standpoint, students should always be aware of their surroundings,” Sheldon Stewart, Criminal Justice Instructor and
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