Huntington, West Virgina is growing more dangerous and as students, We Are worried.
We Are worried because we love Marshall University and unlike other universities, we engage with the community around us.
We Are a big portion of Huntington's community and we love the Huntington community and we fear for its downfall as much as we do our own safety. We do not want to see the place that we spend the majority of our year at to become overtaken by drugs, crime, and fear.
The opioid epidemic has been a huge issue in our city in the previous years and has caused many drug-related crimes, but now we are at a lost for words. In 2017 alone there have been 19 homicides in Huntington and numerous non-fatal shootings, 8 of these homicides have taken place in the last two months.
We Are wanting the answers we deserve. Are these crimes drug related? Is it safe to walk from the parking lots/garages to our dorms and vice versa?
We Are being told and time again that our campus is a safe place and that if we ever feel unsafe to dial 696-HELP for MUPD's services, but as young adults, we think that we know everything. No student wants to call for an escort service to walk them to their dorm or their car, but at the same time, it may not be safe for us to take the 3-6 minute walk by ourselves. Do not be ashamed, embarrassed, or afraid to call.
We Are being left confused, scared and let down. Chief Jim Terry of MUPD stated in an email sent out to all Marshall University students on Wednesday, December 13 that the university complies with the Clergy Act; the Clergy Act requires all schools that take place in federal financial aid programs to keep information and details from the public that deals with crimes committed on and near the school's campus.
Unfortunately, this prohibits MUPD to inform students and faculty of all crimes that happen in Huntington. This may become problematic for the safety of students because a lot of businesses in Huntington are employed by Marshall students requiring them to travel away from the safety net surrounding our campus and to the crime-stricken areas.
As students, we need to listen to the news for updates and statements, as well as ask questions to our university and Huntington officials. Ask our university officials about The Clergy Act and what all it entails. Ask about your safety and the future of Marshall with the community surrounding it crumbling down.
Ask the Huntington officials what all is being done for this issue and what they believe is in-store for the future of Huntington. Most importantly, ask how you can help. We need to come together and fight this battle. We have overcome a lot as a university and as the Marshall family.
We Are Huntington. We Are Marshall.
