November 17, 2011
New Brunswick, NJ- A safety assessment and mapping event will take place at 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011, on the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick. This initiative is organized by students from “GIS in Health and Planning”, an undergraduate Bloustein class at Rutgers University, and a Rutgers undergraduate intern at VERTICES in New Brunswick, NJ. The project, RU Safe?, will investigate students’ perceived levels of safety and vulnerability on campus . The investigation will produce clear and accessible interactive maps that show the distribution of unsafe areas on campus and residential streets. Ultimately, the goal is to make students more aware of their surroundings and promote safe behaviors while walking around campus.
Groups of Rutgers University students will walk through designated areas on the College Avenue Campus and surrounding streets. The area includes the streets between George Street and Easton Avenue, and between Albany Street and Huntington Street. The groups will document any feeling of vulnerability in a particular area and record these observations on survey forms. Because the survey process will take place during the early evening, students can also record areas where they may feel more vulnerable during different hours. The student volunteers who are organizing the event want to focus on the female perspective to promote the best walking routes, better habits, and awareness for college-age women.
The volunteers will enter data online by using Mappler Mobile, a smartphone app which enables its users to log on-site data for community participatory events. The app will list the variables on the survey form so that the data can be efficiently inputted into the interactive map. The map will create a representation of the areas where students may be most susceptible to attack, providing the Rutgers University Police Department will a helpful tool for their patrolling efforts.
When completed, this project will:
- Provide an accessible and easily understood visual depiction of the scope of the safety issues surrounding Rutgers
- Promote awareness for safer habits and precautions that should be taken while walking
- Provide a tool for students to voice safety concerns and draw attention to dangerous areas
- Empower students and demonstrate the power of collaboration
- Teach a valuable skill to all participants
- Provide RUPD with a map that visually prioritizes areas to patrol
To volunteer for this event, contact RUSafe@gmail.com or find us on Facebook by searching “RU Safe” For more information in this event or other VERTICES initiatives, visit us at www.centerforcommunitymappingorg or search “Community Mapping” on Facebook!
RAIN DATE: In the event of rain/snow on Thursday, December 1, this project will be rescheduled for the next Thursday, December 8. Please check our Facebook page to confirm that the event is still taking place any time after 4:00 pm on December 1st!