Students and community members surveyed campus streets from the athletic campus to North Campus last night in an effort to raise awareness about campus safety issues.
The Michigan Student Assembly initiated yesterday's Campus Safety Walk and then combined efforts with eight other campus organizations. Organizers designated 11 different campus areas to visit, including two locations on North Campus.
MSA Campus Safety Commission Chair Jennifer Genovese said roughly 100 people attended the event.
"I think that sends a strong message to administrators that this is one of our main concerns," Genovese said.
Genovese said the purpose of the Campus Safety Walk involves encouraging discussion of safety issues and creating solutions. Each group provided feedback after the walk to include in a comprehensive report outlining ways that safety on campus could be improved. The proposals will be taken to University administrators and Ann Arbor city officials, she said.
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, who participated in the event, said the walk allows people other than students to gain a real sense of the students' experiences in terms of safety.
"That is really the real benefit so when you're making decisions you can have a keener sense," Sheldon said. "I think that is one of the primary purposes of this."
MSA Vice President Olga Savic said students will be able to stress their safety concerns more directly to administrators after they have hands-on experience.
"I think by going on this walk tonight, they'll be able to see it from our perspective," Savic said. "So if we show them what it's like - that might make all the difference."
Ben Hess, a Safewalk dispatcher, said the Campus Safety Walk participants should be pleasantly surprised by how safe the campus really is. He said the event will hopefully educate students about the services on campus, which aim to increase students' safety.
"That would be a great outcome," Hess said. "The things that are there - you just have to use them."
Joel Allan, manager of security services for the University's Housing division, said although they are primarily concerned with North Campus lighting, the mix of individuals participating in the walk will help improve all aspects of campus safety.
"With the variety of people we have here, I think the impact of who is actually out there will be good," Allan said. "We want to make sure the lighting is adequate for where the students are."
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Gary Hicks said the suggestions made last night will be strongly recommended by DPS to various University departments.
"I really don't see any problems in getting these things initiated," Hicks said.
Along with MSA, the eight campus organizations that contributed to the Campus Safety Walk are the Residence Hall Association, the LSA-Student Government, the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, Safewalk, Northwalk, University of Michigan Engineering Council and DPS.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon walks with a group of students down South University Avenue during last night's Campus Safety Walk.