The Student Government Association hosted the Campus Safety Panel on the second floor of Downing Student Union Wednesday, Feb. 28.

This seminar allowed students to engage with facility officers from across WKU’s campus to discuss concerns and questions about safety.

The Campus Improvements Committee sponsored the event. Chair Garrett Edmonds, 18, of McLean County, believed the open discussion allowed students to express their concerns so “we can come together and draw some solutions,” he said.

SGA President Andi Dahmer asked what could be done to decrease the amount of hate crimes on campus.

Chief Diversity Officer Lynne Holland responded that any crime is the end result of an individual who has chosen to step outside of the community standards.

“Students understanding their responsibility of holding other students accountable. Some of these things are so simple, yet so challenging,” she said. “Often times people want to be liked by their peers and are unwilling to say, ‘you do not need to say that.’”

Holland said she wants students to think about their personal responsibility for ending bias incidents, hate crimes and any other crimes against a fellow Hilltopper.

The panel members included Holland, Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russel, Vice President of Student Affairs Brian Kuster, Director of Parking and Transportation Jennifer Tougas, Director of Environmental Health and Safety David Oliver and Chief of Police Mitch Walker.

Louisville junior Rachel Southerland said she believes that safety is important.

“I appreciated being able to listen to what faculty is doing on campus and what students are doing as well,” she said. “It was a good turn out.”

News reporter Ebony Cox can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected].