University of Lethbridge Calgary Campus (ULCC) officials say they will be taking a few extra security measures to ensure student safety when it moves downtown in January.
In a citizen survey released by the Calgary Police Commission Tuesday, only eight per cent of people polled said they strongly agree to feeling safe in downtown at night.
“We would rather be proactive than reactive,” said Lorne Williams, director of the ULCC.
Seven hundred ULCC students will begin their semester in January at the Bow Valley Campus and Williams is confident in Bow Valley’s existing security.
Bow Valley already offers a Safe Walk program and Williams said they will be looking at expanding that program along with ensuring student handbooks provide information on awareness and cautiousness while in the core.
Allan Tam, the ULCC student representative and accounting student whose classes are primarily in the evening, says there is concern from some students.
“Every city this size will have some issues, but I generally think it is OK,” said Tam.
Mike Shaikh, chair of the Calgary Police Commission, says the number of people who feel completely safe downtown at night concerns the Commission and the issue will be taken to the chief of police.
Thirty-five per cent of the 1,004 people polled also said they were not concerned by safety downtown.
