“It really sucks that I live in constant fear in my own neighborhood,” Sarah Sprick, a junior at the University of Missouri, said. “I don’t leave my house at night to even go to the library unless I have a ride, and when I do walk, I talk on the phone with my mom with my pepper spray and key out in case anything happens.”
Sprick, like many students, lives in a house in an area in close proximity to Mizzou’s campus dubbed “East Campus.” In a trend that is seen at college campuses nationwide, sexual assault numbers have been rising over the years at the University of Missouri. A study has shown that a shockingly high proportion of these assaults have occurred along the streets of East Campus. Sprick and many of her neighbors walk the streets at night without a sense of security. Fortunately, Sprick has decided to do something about it.
On December 2, Sprick filed a petition with the City of Columbia to add more street lights along the streets of East Campus. She and many others feel like the noticeable lack of lighting adds to the sense of discomfort and offers more opportunities for potential attackers lurking in the shadows.
“I felt the need to start the petition because, frankly, nobody has done anything about it,” Sprick said. “And I’m sick of it.”
In the two weeks since its birth, Sprick’s petition has received abundant support. Mizzou students shared the petition and voiced their support of it over social media at a rampant pace. In just two weeks, it has already received more than 1,200 electronic signatures.
Many signatures on the online petition are accompanied by comments emphasizing their discomfort with the lack of lighting on East Campus. A surprising amount of comments have come from parents or relatives of students living on East Campus who fear for the safety of their loved ones. Other comments document break-ins and experiences with sexual assaults that people directly relate to the lack of lighting.
“I’m not sure what it is going to take for them to realize this is an issue,” Sprick said. “But my hope is that the petition will bring enough attention to Mizzou that they won’t be able to ignore it anymore.”
Sprick said that the response from the petition has been amazing.
“I knew a lot of people felt the same way I do, but I had no idea I would gain this much support and so quickly,” Sprick said. She has been contacted by news stations, radio stations, newspapers, and the Mizzou Student Association.
However, the lack of lighting may not be the only problem. The houses in the area are notorious for their old age and lack of top-notch security. On her petition’s website, Sprick cites an interview from KOMU with Janet Hammen, the President of East Campus Neighborhood Association, stating her concerns for safety in the area.
“I've lived on East Campus for a long time, and there is plenty of light,” Hammen said. “The problem seems to be with people not locking their doors.”
Whether the issue is a lack of lighting or a lack of security, Sprick’s petition has drastically raised awareness of the rising number of sexual assaults in the area.
Those interested in signing Sprick’s petition can find it at this link: change.org.
Looking forward, Sprick is optimistic that her petition will make changes on East Campus.
“I’m so happy that other people are voicing their opinions about how they feel because that is exactly what needs to happen in order for this issue to be taken seriously.”
