The University of Minnesota has implemented many new security measures as part of their plan to curb crime in and around the Twin Cities campus. The university's Board of Regents recently discussed an update to their campus safety plan.
In an effort to reduce crime rates in the University of Minnesota area, including the Dinkytown neighborhood, the administration introduced several steps as a part of their safety and security plan called M Safe:
- The University hiring of three additional UMPD officers, a Hennepin County social worker and a community liaison
- Providing overtime UMPD patrols to the Dinkytown/Marcy Holmes neighborhood and coordinating with the City of Minneapolis to provide increased patrols in the same area
- Partnership with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to provide additional visible patrols on and near campus
- Working with the city, power utilities, public works, Dinkytown leaders and University departments to improve lighting in the neighborhood, as well as litter and graffiti removal
- Beginning a community ambassadors program to engage Dinkytown businesses and neighbors in ongoing conversations and partnership
- Making the RAVE Escort app available to all students, faculty and staff to provide users a virtual walking buddy and a direct connection to the campus 911 center as they walk across campus
- Installing four blue light safety kiosks adjacent to Dinkytown that provide 24/7 video surveillance and a connection to 911 dispatchers
This update to M Safe, a plan which highlights tension between those who feel more policing is the solution and those who feel more policing is the problem, combines different strategies in a layered approach to campus security.
