2008 Woodie Awards
Some UTC Place residents express concerns about housing security
Amber J. Adams
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: News
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Security and safety of residents has proven to be a major issue at UTC Place, the largest housing complex at UTC. Residents' opinions vary on the issue of safety at UTC Place and what steps could be taken to make students feel more secure in their surroundings.
Whitney Porter, a Memphis freshman, said she does not really feel safe living in the 2000 building of UTC Place. Porter cited broken entrance doors as one of the reasons she does not feel secure.
"It doesn't help to have a card access system when anyone can get in the building when the door doesn't shut properly," she said.
Tiffany Landrum, a Tulsa, Okla., junior and an assistant resident director in the 2000 building, said she does not think the individual apartment doors are sturdy enough. Landrum said the 2000 building's proximity to Martin Luther King Boulevard could also raise security concerns.
"Sometimes you can't tell who is a student and who is not, especially when the clubs are open on MLK," she said.
Mac McNeely, the chief of UTC police , said Place Properties, who manages the five buildings, has hired security officers specifically for UTC Place.
"The officers walk the hallways in order to see who is a student and who is not," McNeely said.
Lyndon Baskin, a Memphis junior and an assistant director in the 4000 and 5000 buildings, said he feels safe in those buildings but feels the 1000, 2000 and 3000 are unsafe.
"I think there is a higher chance of burglary in those buildings," Baskin said.
Sean Chism, a Jackson, Tenn., senior, said he feels safer living in the 5000 building than he did when he lived in the 3000.
"I heard of a lot of problems such as things getting stolen when I lived in the 3000 building and I haven't heard of anything like that [in 5000]," Chism said.
Steven Hood, director of housing, said students may now see progress being made on the installation of ornamental fencing behind the 1000, 2000 and 3000 buildings.
Whitney Porter, a Memphis freshman, said she does not really feel safe living in the 2000 building of UTC Place. Porter cited broken entrance doors as one of the reasons she does not feel secure.
"It doesn't help to have a card access system when anyone can get in the building when the door doesn't shut properly," she said.
Tiffany Landrum, a Tulsa, Okla., junior and an assistant resident director in the 2000 building, said she does not think the individual apartment doors are sturdy enough. Landrum said the 2000 building's proximity to Martin Luther King Boulevard could also raise security concerns.
"Sometimes you can't tell who is a student and who is not, especially when the clubs are open on MLK," she said.
Mac McNeely, the chief of UTC police , said Place Properties, who manages the five buildings, has hired security officers specifically for UTC Place.
"The officers walk the hallways in order to see who is a student and who is not," McNeely said.
Lyndon Baskin, a Memphis junior and an assistant director in the 4000 and 5000 buildings, said he feels safe in those buildings but feels the 1000, 2000 and 3000 are unsafe.
"I think there is a higher chance of burglary in those buildings," Baskin said.
Sean Chism, a Jackson, Tenn., senior, said he feels safer living in the 5000 building than he did when he lived in the 3000.
"I heard of a lot of problems such as things getting stolen when I lived in the 3000 building and I haven't heard of anything like that [in 5000]," Chism said.
Steven Hood, director of housing, said students may now see progress being made on the installation of ornamental fencing behind the 1000, 2000 and 3000 buildings.
