On April 7, a young woman was shot and critically injured in the Summit and 11th Ave area. Students who lived in the area heard the university dispatched sirens but no information. Instead, Ohio State students found out about the shooting because they accidentally encountered the scene or read about it on social media.
While police were trying to gather all of the details on Monday night about the incident, students were enraged that University Safety Services did not issue any warning about the shooting or the crime scene area. In the spirit of anonymity, students voiced their outrage at the university’s negligence over Yik Yak.
President Drake has not had the smoothest beginning to his presidency thus far, and leading an administration that does not actively prioritize the safety of students is not helping. However, even USG’s new presidential campaign to improve student safety on and off campus falls flat in light of recent events. They talk the talk, but when are they going to start walking the walk? Politics and academia may have gotten President Drake and the USG reps where they are now, but students need action right now, not politic jargon on a platform of false promises.
Frankly, what Ohio State needs is a refocusing on its students needs for a better standard of life. While not all crimes can be prevented, a strong line of communication between officials and students can be improved. All officials need to do is sign on to social media to see the call to action students are asking for.