Student confidence in the safety of undergraduate parking seems to have fallen after a student was allegedly assaulted Tuesday night in the Blue Zone, but police maintain that the lots are already the safest on campus.
The student, junior Lee Jones, reported being held up at gunpoint after getting out of his car at about 10:15 p.m. Jones was not hurt, but the suspect did take his wallet. It was the first such incident reported since the Blue Zone opened in August 2000 as the main parking area for West Campus residents, and police continue to point out the lots' safety measures.
"I still see it as a safe lot. No lot is going to be 100 percent crime-proof," said Maj. Robert Dean of the Duke University Police Department. "If someone has in mind to commit a crime, then they are going to. Students should always be aware of their surroundings no matter where they are. Those things should be an everyday practice; just being aware."
Dean and parking officials said they welcome suggestions on how to improve security, but said that there are currently no plans for increased measures. They noted the relatively low crime rates in the Blue Zone since they installed 10-foot fences, more lighting, video cameras and entrance gates. In addition, an SUV with a green search light regularly patrols the Blue
Although cameras cover the area where the student said he was assaulted, Dean said that nothing showed up on the camera. Some students, including Jones, suggested that more could be done to improve security. He said the incident may have been prevented with better lighting or fewer trees around.
"The police handled it really well, but just overall, the safety of the parking lot isn't where it should be right now," Jones said. "I think it's kind of a good thing that this happened, so they can make some changes. It could have been a lot worse."
Police do not yet have any suspects in the case, but Wednesday they did release more details about the person for whom they are searching. Jones described him as a 180-lb., 6' black man wearing blue jeans and a dark-colored, hooded sweatshirt. The man allegedly approached him, asking, "Hey man what you got?" and pointing what Jones thought to be a silver-colored handgun, possibly 9 mm.
Jones gave the man his wallet, containing $30 cash and credit and identification cards. The man then ran into the wooded area toward Duke University Road. Police searched for the suspect but did not find him.
"It seems that up until now, given the low crime rate, that the security measures in the Blue Zone have been adequate. But an incident as severe as this raises questions in my mind," said sophomore Matthew Slovik, Duke Student Government vice president for facilities and athletics.
Slovik said his DSG committee will address the issue at its meeting next week, and that one possible solution is the return of a program like SafeKarts, which for a short time last year shuttled students between West Campus and the Blue Zone via golf carts.
Some students said such changes may make the lots safer, but that the assault has changed their perception of parking there. "I would always be scared walking in the Blue Zone alone, but now this has happened, I would be even more reluctant to go there without friends," said junior Ashley D'Uva.
Other undergraduates, such as junior Keith Grawert, said more patrolling may be a solution. "Maybe if they just had uniformed police walking Othe beat' so you had some visible presence," he said, adding that he has seen the driver of the security SUV idle, reading a magazine.
The Blue Zone also has a small hut at its entrance, originally designed as a station for police officers. It was not used after officials decided the SUV was more effective, said Joe Pietrantoni, associate vice president for auxiliary services, adding that a decision is still being made on the hut.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.