MSU, E.L. police work to ensure students' safety

(Last updated: 08/28/09 6:31pm) Come late August, thousands of new students will be spending their first week at MSU — a prime setting for those looking to take advantage of East Lansing's newcomers.

But police officials say new students don't have to fall into the wrong hands if they just take advantage of the departments' services.

"MSU is like a city within a city," MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. "The same precautions they would take at home, they should also take here. They should lock their doors and shouldn't leave their personal items unattended."

MSU's Department of Police and Public Safety handles all on-campus crime. It has offices spread throughout campus, including Brody, Mayo and Holden halls, Spartan Village, the Clinical Center, the Shaw Lane parking ramp and the Main Library. Its headquarters are located at 87 Red Cedar Road.

Both the East Lansing Police Department and MSU police agree that alcohol-related offenses are the No. 1 offense most freshmen encounter.

"The main problem that we see is that during Welcome Week, they're bored," East Lansing police Capt. Kim Johnson said. "They just walk around and see what's going on. That's not a problem, but everyone's out at the same time. Freshmen — they're just students doing their thing, and the exposure they have with us is when they've been drinking in the city."

Michigan has a zero-tolerance law concerning minors in possession of alcohol, McGlothian-Taylor said. She added that students need to stay alert, and police assistance is available in most nooks and crannies of campus.

"It's important that they are aware of their surroundings all the time," she said. "We have over 102 green light phones that they can utilize if their cell phone batteries are dead."

The phones are stationed throughout MSU's campus and can be used for short on-campus or emergency phone calls. McGlothian-Taylor also pointed out State Walk, a service in which students can walk other students home across campus to ensure their safety.

Johnson said incoming students should be aware of the dangers that come with underage drinking and arriving in a new city.

"One thing we try and encourage is that they always be with someone else," Johnson said. "Try to make sure a few people are sober and stay together, and don't leave your friends in environments that may not be safe for them."

Originally Published: 06/06/07 12:00am