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DU Students Demand Better Security Before Serious Incident Occurs

DENVER (CBS4) - Another alert for crime on campus at the University of Denver is causing some students to demand higher security before someone is seriously hurt. The school said the perception that more crime happens on their campus than at other campuses is simply not true.

The latest incident on Tuesday evening was a car theft, but the university has seen a variety of violent crimes lately. One new measure implemented security phones across the campus, which students can pick up and be taken automatically to an emergency line.

One student, Aleeya Wilson, said, "It's definitely a problem at college campuses in general, but I feel that this year at DU it's gone up a little bit more."

Another student said she and her friends don't feel safe on campus after a series of recent crimes, "attempted rapes, forcible fondling, rape incidents, cars being stolen."

DU student security
(credit: CBS)

Last November, in a one week period, five students were the victims of armed robbery. A few weeks ago, another student was forcibly fondled.

"I know somebody that was just walking up University Boulevard in broad daylight, and somebody was threatening to rape her and nobody did anything," the student told CBS4. She said she approached campus security and was told "it was a budget issue."

DU Spokesman Will Jones disagrees, "I categorically deny everything she is putting in there." Jones said safety has always been a top priority at DU, and money has never been an issue.

But after the November incidents, DU realized campus security needed a bigger presence on campus.

Jones explained, "We beefed up our campus safety presence and we also spent more money and hired an outside firm to walk campus grounds as well."

DU campus
(credit: CBS)

The student said she's hoping the improved safety measures are not too little too late, stating, "don't wait until there's a major school shooting before we go uh-oh, we need to have better security."

DU also offers a 24-hour service to escort students across campus, part of their commitment to let students know that safety is their number one priority.

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