Regis College Students React to Campus Safety

As Regis College returns to the regular routine of academic life following the stabbing death on the quiet campus last month, an increase in police presence and attention general awareness has eased the concerns of many students.

"I feel comfortable," sophomore Nicole Norregaard said. "I am probably a little more concerned walking around at night alone, but other than that things happen everywhere."

"I have always felt safe on the campus and have always noticed the Regis College police presence on campus," graduate student Elizabeth Alessi said. "I come from an urban community, so I am always someone to keep my eyes out and try to walk with others late at night. I attended Regis as an undergrad as well and have always felt safe on this campus and probably always will."

Last week Boston resident Robenson Daniel, 20, was arrested and accused of killing Waltham resident Elhadji Ndiaye, 18, and stabbing a second man on the Weston campus on Sept. 24.  The Regis College video surveillance system and well-lit campus allowed Weston Police to easily identify a suspect.

Daniel has been charged with murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and armed assault with intent to murder. Neither the victim nor the suspect was a student at Regis College.

"One of the things we have been reflecting on in the last two weeks is the fact that Americans tend to think that technology and physical police presence are automatically the way to respond to a crisis like this. But we are a college community and we are very aware that community awareness is actually probably the deeper response," special assistant to the president Dr. Mary Jane Doherty said. "Certainly when the incident occurred tragically on our campus on September 24, we took measures to make sure security was in place. It already was, but we beefed it up and what we did remains current."

Among the physical precautions, residential halls, including Angela Hall where the Children's Center is located, have police presence assigned at all hours of the day. Campus police have increased foot patrols during the day and at night two of the three entrances to the campus are closed. During the overnight hours, campus police monitor the main entrance to Regis College off Wellesley Street. Students and guests are required to present identification to be allowed on the property.

"Everywhere I look, every time I am outside, I always seem to see campus police walking around," sophomore Semi Spahillari said. "I was scared that there was going to be more stabbings or someone that was going to come (to campus). I was literally scared. It seemed like a really safe campus. That was one of the reasons why I came here."

In addition to the campus police patrols, Weston Police has also increased visibility in the area.

"We stepped up our patrols. We are going through the campus a lot more than we did previous. We have been up there a lot. Most cars in that sector will swing through and check parking lots," Lt. John Lyons of the Weston Police department said.

 "It is concerning that people will bring people like that on to the campus, but I think they have done a good job reestablishing the safety," Norregaard said.

But teaching students to be aware of their surroundings and potentially dangerous situations is a major factor in preventing future violence from coming on campus.

"It is not just a question of beefing up security. There has to be the education of human beings and there has to be community awareness at different levels," Doherty said.

 "I would just hope, having been a resident student as an undergrad, that people are aware that you don't hold the door for anyone. Let them use their key. And I just hope students who are residents on campus are aware of doing things like that," Alessi said.