What better way to observe potential campus security problems than to take a walk in the dark?

That’s exactly what members of the University of Houston community do each fall. The annual “Walk in the Dark” offers faculty, staff and students the opportunity to take a guided night tour around campus to inspect areas that might need additional lighting or bolstered security.

This year’s “Walk in the Dark” will begin at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the University Center (UC). All faculty, staff and students are invited to participate. The Student Government Association (SGA), in conjunction with the UH Department of Public Safety (UHDPS) and Plant Operations, sponsors the event.

“This is a very productive event,” said Malcolm Davis, UH chief of police and executive director of public safety. “The university has been very responsive to observations made during these walks.”

After previous walks, lighting was enhanced and security cameras were installed across the campus.

“It’s important that we have this event every year,” Davis said. “This campus is in growth mode. The framework plan is changing the look of the university, and areas that seemed okay last year may have changed.”

Scheduled participants include members of SGA, UHDPS officers and members of the Plant Operations team including grounds, lighting and building maintenance personnel, project managers and directors.

“We want members from every corner of the community to attend this event,” Davis said. “What I see on campus and what a student sees might be two different things. It’s important that we hear different suggestions and see potential security flaws from different perspectives.”

Following the “Walk in the Dark,” shuttle buses will be available to pick up participants and return them to the starting point at the UC.

For more information about this year’s walk, call UHDPS at 713-743-3333.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu