Daniella Tebib
News Editor
dtebib@murraystate.edu
The city of Murray was named one of America’s safest college towns.
To determine which college towns are the safest, SafeWise, a safety-focused consumer research firm, analyzes the violent crime rates in the areas.
According to SafeWise, Murray was ranked 38th with a crime rate of 1.35 crimes per 1000 people. It was also the only Kentucky city in the top 50 and one of five towns in the regional area which includes Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
President Bob Jackson said he was extremely pleased for Murray to receive this recognition.
“The health, safety and well-being of our students is of utmost importance,” Jackson said. “This recognition, along with our 2019 national rankings for top quality academics and as one of America’s best college values, makes Murray State University one of the most attractive choices for a high-quality, high-value education.”
Mayor Bob Rogers was also pleased with the announcement as safety is Murray’s number one priority.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens is our highest priority and when students come to Murray State, they become our citizens,” Rogers said. “Their safety and well-being is of paramount importance to us. We realize that a lot of students reside off campus and we want to be sure that they’re safe where they live, as well as when they travel to and from campus. Being a parent and grandparent, I fully realize how important it is to families to know that their children are in a safe environment.”
Kiara Jones, sophomore from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, said she always feels safe on campus.
“I walk around on campus at night all the time, whether I’m leaving the library or class,” Jones. “But, I always feel safe. I use the LiveSafe app if I ever feel nervous, but that rarely happens.”
The Murray State Police Department and Center for Adult and Regional Education were also named first in the nation for their campus safety initiatives. Both of the University units received the 2018 Department of the Year award from Safe Campus, according to the press release.
To ensure student safety, emergency call boxes are located throughout campus on the residential and academic sides of campus.
There are two types of emergency call boxes: yellow call boxes and blue light call boxes. Both types of call boxes are direct lines to the Murray State police dispatch.
The blue light emergency call boxes located on campus are the posts with the solar panels, blue light and the word “emergency” written vertically down the pole. Students who feel like they are in danger can press the emergency button on the boxes to be directed to police. Once activated, the blue light will light up and start flashing. A police officer will then be dispatched to the location of the box.
The yellow call boxes also serve as a direct connection to the Murray State Police, but they are not equipped with a light.
Students can also download the LiveSafe app on their phones to practice safety on campus. According to the website, LiveSafe allows users to share information to keep the campus safe, make sure their friends arrive safely with SafeWalk and get help fast by calling or messaging the Murray State Police.