MU continues adding resources to enhance campus safety

Two weeks have passed since University of Virginia student Hannah Graham went missing.

She was last seen after a night out with friends. The main suspect in the case is in custody, but the search for Graham continues.

Because of the scale of the incident, ABC 17 News looked into resources the University of Missouri has if the same thing were to happen.

“We have a lot of things going on around campus that have accelerated over the last year,” said University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin. “We always have a lot of training for our students, our faculty and staff on personal safety, about how to handle yourself, how to avoid situations that may develop the wrong way.”

Loftin said the numerous emergency call stations on campus, as well as the escort service offered for students from their car to a building are just some of the resources students can use to be safe.

“I’ve added three police officers in the last few months, specifically to handle the interface with the university and the downtown area here to make sure we have safety along the streets,” Loftin said.

Loftin said one focus right now and going forward is not only teaching personal safety and awareness, but also alcohol awareness.

“Right now we have a huge focus on alcohol awareness,” he said. “We’ve always done that. We’re doing it more than ever now because the alcohol is a fundamental contributor. And so many of the problems we’ve had here over the last several years, this is something we need to pay attention to to educate our students on the consequences of underage drinking and excessive drinking.”

MUPD said Residential Life has protocol if a student is reported missing from campus. Those are instances when MUPD is involved.

But if a student lives off campus, it then falls into the hands of the city police department where the student lives.