A senior at SIU-Carbondale says there is a growing concern about student safety after a pair of recent shootings near the campus.
Alex Corn says social media posts after the violent incidents on West Walnut Street and the Evolve Apartment Complex illustrated the students' fears.
"I just kind of started asking my friends similar questions that I'm asking students now, 'Do you feel safe at SIU as a student?' A lot of the responses were very negative. It really got me thinking about how many people actually don't feel safe."
That's why Corn has started an initiative called Operation Saluki Voice to collect input from students and then bring those concerns to the university administration.
He says the suggestions may lead to the formation of a new student organization focused on student safety.
"Whether it be safety awareness for the students, some people have suggested kind of making a neighborhood watch-esque student run organization. As well as some other things, being able to have a way where everybody is communicating under one umbrella."
Corn says assistant dean of students Jeff McGoy has agreed to accept the students' comments and meet to talk about them.
He says students can add their comments by tweeting at #salukivoice or stop by an informational table outside Morris Library this week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
