AU president talks safety

By Amy Weaver

Published: March 11, 2008

Campus security is still on many minds at Auburn University the week following the murder of an 18-year-old freshman.

In his first State of the University address, AU President Dr. Jay Gogue talked to members of the general faculty about a security audit completed last fall and three of the recommendations from the security firm hired to review AU’s procedures. One recommendation called for a director of public safety. Auburn’s Melvin Owens was elevated to the post. Another issue involved security cameras.

“There certainly is a need for more,” Gogue said. Even though more cameras were ordered long before Lauren Burk was murdered March 4, he said there is a delay in making sure the new machines work with the current ones. Auburn officials refuse to say how many cameras are on campus and where they are located.

Another recommendation was to ensure the campus is receiving the coverage it expects from the Auburn Police Division. The university campus police division merged with the city’s operation July 1, 2004. Gogue said the communication between the campus and city is better than ever.

Since parents are increasingly concerned about the safety of their children at campuses around the country, Gogue expects to see more requests for on-campus housing. The Village housing project on the campus’ west side will add about 1,700 more beds, but it’s still not enough to accommodate an entire freshman class.

“Parents want their children, their kids, their students living on campus,” he said.

A major concern for Gogue presently is the state funding shortfall. The legislature isn’t expected to discuss the issue until April, but Auburn could take a 14 percent hit. However, if legislatures cut all education levels at the same rate, Auburn would only lose 5 percent.

“It’s a bad cut, but it’s something we can live with it,” he said.

On a more positive note, Gogue says has seen some of the best Auburn has to offer in the seven months since he became president. The amount of alumni support, for instance, has been a key component in the success of reaching the $500 million capital campaign goal.

Gogue said the fall enrollment not only drew 18,000 applicants for some 4,000 spots, but the quality of the students coming to Auburn is up too. It’s expected to grow for next fall as well. Auburn also boosts that it had the largest ethnic population —- 13 percent —- enrolled this fall.

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