In Chapel Hill, young women worry about safety as rape remains unsolved
Some female students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say a series of recent incidents has them feeling unsafe on campus and near campus.
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"I just felt really safe in Chapel Hill in general, and that whole mood has shifted so much, that now I don’t even feel safe walking five steps to my house," she said.
Her friends in the ZTA house called and texted to be sure her door was locked.
"I was so scared, I stayed awake for two hours this morning," she said.
"I think everything has kind of piled together to create this really tense environment," Milliken said. "I know all of us are extremely worried at all times. We constantly text each other in group chats to make sure we’re OK. It’s come to the point where we say 'I love you' every time we leave each other, because we’re always worried it might be the last time we see each other."
Arden Chaucer, in her second year at Carolina, said, "Being a woman, and being a young woman, safety is definitely something that I’m constantly thinking about."
For UNC junior MaKenna Lagaly, the greatest worry is that police have yet to make an arrest in the rape.
"I think they should find him, because that’s probably the freakiest part, that he’s still out there," she said. "Maybe put more police out at night."
Some students have noticed a stepped-up police presence. It's a layer of protection they hope continues.
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, interim chancellor at UNC, said leaders were working to improve campus safety. Last week, he asked his leadership to examine the current state of key fobs and lights to see about any needed improvements.
Asked about the university, campus police and Chapel Hill police, Milliken said, "I think all three need to step up and make sure their students and their residents feel comfortable."
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