Violent Incidents on UT Campus Leads to Improved Security

Violent Incidents on UT Campus Leads to Improved Security

The University of Texas has stepped up its safety and security following violent incidents on campus.

University of Texas police are upgrading security, adding campus safety professionals and learning to communicate better in the wake of the two deaths on campus since 2016.

In April 2016, a freshman, Haruka Weiser, was found dead in a creek on campus near the Alumni Center. According to court documents she was assaulted and killed by a homeless teenager, who was later charged with her murder.

In May 2017, a stabbing spree on campus killed Harrison Brown and injured three other students. A student from the campus was arrested and charged for the crimes.

This week marks the first anniversary of the stabbing spree and UT campus police and safety officials want students to know they should feel safe. In a letter send to students this week, the schools police chief and vice president of safety wrote about how the school is continuously striving to improve safety on the campus.

After the murder in April 2016, UTPD, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, conducted a safety audit to determine where security gaps were. Since then, UTPD has increased its police force from 67 officers to 104. Campus safety leaders explained that the stabbing in May 2017 accelerated the momentum behind the changes already in progress.

Other changes include UTPD working a lot more closely with the Austin Police Department, allowing UTPD to receive an broadcast updates about crimes that happen in West campus. UTPD has also added a communications officer who will help UTPD take in more information about and share information with the campus community. UTPD has expanded patrols, staffed more officers in West Campus and are doing more community policing to build the trust of students.

In addition to patrols and communication, the university also implemented a major security overhaul.

The university is installing "celebrated entrances" at all buildings on the main campus. That means that after hours, there will only be one point of entry to campus buildings which will only be accessible by students, faculty and staff with a key card.

Inside the entrance is a "safety hub" which will contain an AED, a hemorrhage response kit, an emergency call button and clearly marked address information. Overlooking the entrance will be a camera to gather surveillance footage.

To cut down on crime, the university is also increasing lighting on campus and in off-campus communities where students live. UT is also working to cut down on plants around campus that get in the way of visibility.

While many of these changes are already complete, the whole security overhaul should be updated by September 2018. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Hanwha QNO-7012R

    Hanwha QNO-7012R

    The Q Series cameras are equipped with an Open Platform chipset for easy and seamless integration with third-party systems and solutions, and analog video output (CVBS) support for easy camera positioning during installation. A suite of on-board intelligent video analytics covers tampering, directional/virtual line detection, defocus detection, enter/exit, and motion detection.