Earlier this morning, the university issued two public safety alerts to report that three robberies and a battery had occurred on our Lincoln Park Campus between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Unfortunately, all three crimes involved our students, and Public Safety responded immediately to provide medical care and support. We are deeply upset our students had this alarming experience on our campus, and we wanted to update you on the action steps the university is taking with the City of Chicago and inside our own institution.
As reported in the public safety alerts, the incidents happened within minutes of each other between 1 and 1:30 a.m. in three separate locations on our Lincoln Park Campus: the walkway next to the Fullerton El Station, the corner of Belden and Sheffield, and the corner of Kenmore and Fullerton.
We believe the same offenders were responsible for all three incidents. In all three cases on our campus, the offenders approached our students and demanded their belongings. One of the offenders also hit a student in the face. Again, university staff are working with the students involved to make sure they are receiving care and support.
As immediate action steps, DePaul will increase its public safety presence on both campuses with additional security officers. We also have filed our concerns with the mayor, police commander and elected officials.
Chicago continues to face ongoing challenges with criminal activity across the city. We must acknowledge this sad reality and respond accordingly. Public Safety remains on heightened alert and is actively working with the Chicago Police Department to address these most recent incidents. We are grateful for the strong relationship we have with the police and our elected officials. We will continue to proactively work with them.
We know how happy our students are to be back on campus for a new school year, and we share your excitement. At the same time, we must emphasize the importance of paying attention to your surroundings and using DePaul’s safety resources – especially after dark:
-
The
safety escort service is available on the Lincoln Park Campus from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. If you are out after dark, using this service is the best way to stay safe.
- During the week, the
inter-campus shuttle is available between the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- To travel to residential destinations just outside the boundaries of Lincoln Park, use the
Vinnie Van service.
- Note the location of phones and the blue
emergency call boxes on campus, and don’t ever be afraid to use them.
- Stay alert, trust your instincts, and travel in groups after dark.
- Report any criminal activity or suspicious individuals to Public Safety at 773-325-7777 (Lincoln Park) or 312-362-8400 (Loop).
- For more resources and tips, please visit the
Public Safety website.
Keeping our university community safe always remains a top priority, and please know we take incidents like this extremely seriously. As we shared last week, campus safety is one of our initiatives for the year ahead.
This Thursday, Sept. 14, the university will host a Campus Safety Summit at noon in the Lincoln Park Student Center, Room 120. We highly encourage you to join the conversation and help us identify how we can support each other. More information about the summit, including a registration link, is
available here.
In addition to the Campus Safety Summit, Student Affairs is planning a series of educational sessions, and more information will be shared as soon as it is available.
Please continue to take care of yourself and take care of each other. Thank you for everything you do to Take Care DePaul.