Don't Become a Victim
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By Priscilla Stanley |
| Pulse Staff Reporter |
Recent crime activity on campus contradicts the story “Safety at PAC among the best” that ran in the last issue of "The Pulse."
On March 3, Jaime Brown, a freshman Nursing major parked her truck in the Ozuna parking lot around 11:00 a.m. She found her CD player and purse missing when she returned to her car at 1:00 p.m. There were no visible signs of a break-in.
On the way home, Brown was involved in a serious car accident on Loop 410. She swerved, trying to avoid a bucket on the road. "I hit this car that was in my blind spot. She hit the tail end of my truck. That caused me to hit the wall and I flipped over," said Brown. Brown and her family believe that her emotions from the burglary may have contributed to the accident.
Whoever stole Brown's purse was using her debit card at an H.E.B. near the site of the accident. "I knew I shouldn't have left my purse there," said Brown. "I just thought, `Oh, I'm just going to run into class.'" Anyone who may have seen the break-in, please call Palo Alto's Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 921-5212 or ACCD Police Department Dispatch at 208-8099.
Crime was the news of the day on March 8. A vehicle break-in occurred in Lot 2, the main lot on campus. On that same day, an aggravated robbery took place outside the Natatorium, around the late afternoon. There were no witnesses. The student was beaten badly enough to receive hospitalization for three days. Both of these cases are still under investigation.
Another issue warranting attention on campus is domestic violence, also referred to as family violence. Palo Alto is a “hot bed” for domestic violence, according to Patricia Parma, Counselor and Coordinator of the Returning Adult Center. All cases are kept highly confidential.
Domestic violence ranges from emotional to physical abuse. A person is a victim of domestic violence, even if they were beaten one time. More information about domestic violence can be found on the San Antonio Police Domestic Violence Prevention website: www.ci.sat.tx.us/sapd/SAFamily.htm.
Sometimes, husbands or boyfriends look for their wives or girlfriends here on campus. There have been cases when some women hide the fact that they come to school from their spouse. Many women who are abused at home think of Palo Alto as a safe place, said Parma.
A total of 4,723 domestic violence assaults were reported to SAPD in 1997, and 4,260 were reported in 1998. Most domestic violence cases are never reported to local law enforcement because of fear. Parma and Eloisa Cordova, an Education Support Specialist, want to provide victims, their family members and friends with the resources they need. The first step to any domestic violence case is to address the problem.
Parma and Cordova usually set up brown-bag discussions with Patricia Castillo, a spokesperson from The Benedictine Resource Center. There, anyone can share their feelings or experiences on domestic violence with others. If anyone is interested in participating in a brown-bag discussion, call Parma at 921-5383 or Cordova at 921-5382.
Brochures on topics such as stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, crime victim's compensation, community resources and hotline numbers are available near the Transfer Center, located in the Palomino Center.
If there is a topic that students want to know more about, they are welcomed to request that information. Requests may remain anonymous.
"We want to let students know that they are not alone," said Parma. "There are people here to provide help and care."
Students, faculty and staff should take precautions during any time of the day. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't walk with your head hanging down. This is a submissive stance that makes you an easy target.
There are eight emergency phones around the campus that anyone may use if they feel they are in danger. After hitting the red button, your call and location is sent directly to Dispatch and campus police reach you within a matter of minutes.
Johnny Knowles, a Palo Alto Patrol Officer, encourages people to walk in groups. If you are uncomfortable walking alone, campus police are available to escort you to your destination. Knowles also suggests that students should not leave valuables visible within their vehicles. When it comes to vandalism or theft, "Don't give them an inch," said Knowles.
Everyone must take the proper safety measures in order to prevent the outcome of a crime. "Students think, `Well, it will never happen to me,'" said Knowles. "Well, there's always a first time."
In case of an emergency, call 220-0911. The police may be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week.