A SAFER CAMPUS

Marshall implements several new measures as part of an ongoing commitment to the safety of its students, faculty and staff.

By James E. Casto

Marshall University has put in place an array of measures aimed at keeping the campus safe for students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the public.

The safety measures undertaken include reduced speed limits on busy Third and Fifth avenues, a university-wide awareness campaign about pedestrian safety and a new crosswalk on 20th Street.

The speed limit reduction, pedestrian awareness campaign and crosswalk were implemented as the result of ongoing discussions among Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, Marshall University administrators and officials with the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH). The discussions were initiated following a tragic accident in November 2021, when a Marshall student was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle in the 1800 block of Third Avenue.

In June 2022, West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston issued a temporary order reducing the speed limit to 25 mph from 35 mph on Third and Fifth avenues between Sixth and 20th streets. The reduction will remain in place pending completion of a DOH traffic safety audit of the campus area. The audit is still in progress.

When a Marshall Pedestrian Safety Task Force studied the safety of pedestrians on and around the Huntington campus, it recommended two items to President Brad D. Smith: reduce the speed limit around the campus, and deploy a public awareness campaign on pedestrian safety.

Responding to the task force, Marshall launched a new pedestrian safety campaign, called “Heads Up Herd,” reminding pedestrians to keep their heads up and their eyes off their mobile phones.

The campaign reminded pedestrians to cross streets at designated crosswalks; to always look left, right and left again before crossing; and to make sure they are seen by oncoming drivers.

“The No. 1 complaint I receive from people is how members of our community cross streets surrounding the university,” said James E. Terry, director of MU’s Office of Public Safety. “I want students and employees to think about what they’re doing before they cross a roadway in an unsafe manner. The risk of getting hurt is simply is not worth the time you might save.”

Meanwhile, the City of Huntington has installed a new crosswalk on 20th Street between Third and Fifth avenues, designed to make it safer for pedestrians to access the Marshall Rec Center and the Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Pedestrian pushbuttons on each side of the crosswalk trigger beacon lights that flash to alert motorists in both lanes of traffic that people are preparing to enter the crosswalk. The crosswalk also includes signage alerting motorists to yield to pedestrians.

“The safety of our students, faculty and staff is Marshall’s highest priority,” said President Smith. “As we wait for the traffic safety audit to be completed, the temporary speed reduction, the pedestrian awareness campaign and the new crosswalk on 20th Street have added tools to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

When completed, the audit is expected to include an analysis of historical crash data; a review of traffic signage and markings on roadways; on-site observations; and a comprehensive review of how vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle safety could be improved in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, school officials are addressing the issue of guns on campus after the 2023 West Virginia Legislature enacted a bill allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses. The new law will take effect July 1, 2024. At Marshall, an ad hoc committee has been formed to draw up recommendations for how to go about complying with it.

“It’s going to be a challenging job, but the committee members are already hard at it,” said Dr. Marcie E. Simms, MU’s vice president of Intercultural and Student Affairs.

“Working with the Higher Education Policy Commission and other universities and colleges across the state, the committee is determined to deliver its final recommendations well before the law’s implementation date.”

Simms cited a number of other useful safety measures in place on the Marshall campus, including:

HELP Phones — “We have more than 30 emergency phones located throughout the Huntington campus,” she said. The phones provide direct contact with the campus police dispatcher 24 hours a day. The Green Machine — “If a student is anxious about walking between the campus and their destination, they can ride the Green Machine, a free bus operated by the Tri-State Transit Authority,” she said. “Whether you need to get downtown for an art class, visit Student Health Services at the Marshall Medical Center at Cabell Huntington Hospital or maybe just go shopping, all it takes is your MU-ID to ride.”

MUPD Escort Program —

“If a student feels unsafe getting to their car or residence hall, they can contact the MU Police Department, which will dispatch an officer to their location and walk them to their vehicle or residence hall.”

MU Alert — In an emergency, the university uses text messages, e-mails and telephone calls to quickly alert community members of a threat and provide safety instructions. Students, faculty and staff can choose the contact methods they prefer.