Following recent nationwide events on college campuses, the Emory Police Department (EPD) will implement increased safety measures beginning Jan. 21 on Emory University’s Atlanta and Oxford College campuses, according to EPD Chief Burt Buchtinec’s email to the campus community this morning.
Beginning next week, EmoryCards will be required to access all exterior doors of academic and office buildings, excluding the Atlanta campus bookstore, Cox Hall Market and the Michael C. Carlos Museum, according to Buchtinec. All Emory students, faculty and staff are required to hold EmoryCards, which are the University’s official identification and can be loaded with dining credits. Currently, Emory community members only use the EmoryCard to scan into residence halls, research labs, libraries and the George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center.
Buchtinec wrote in his email that these security measures will help increase Emory’s “commitment to ensuring a secure environment.”
“Recent tragedies at universities across the country, including the August 8 shooting that targeted the CDC adjacent to Emory's Atlanta campus, underscore the importance of our continuous focus on the safety and well-being of our Emory community,” Buchtinec wrote.
EPD will also increase on-foot officer presence in high-traffic areas on all Emory campuses, according to the email.
Currently, EPD collaborates with the Student Government Association, Graduate Student Government Association and Oxford Student Government Association through their Student Advisory Council to gain insight on response and support practices. EPD will also continue collaboration with the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response to provide training and education to community members.
Buchtinec’s email follows a Jan. 10 announcement by Emory University School of Law Dean Richard Freer, which informed the community about new security measures at the law school after a member of the Emory Law community caused “concern” with social media posts.
In his email, Buchitnec emphasized that all University community members must carry their EmoryCards and highlighted that these changes are meant to keep the community safe.
“This expansion of card access strengthens how we collectively support and protect the Emory community,” Buchtinec wrote. “EPD is proud to serve alongside students, faculty, staff, patients, and families, and collaborate with Emory leadership to foster safe spaces.”
Lauren Yee (she/her) (24Ox, 27C) is a managing editor at The Emory Wheel. She is from Hong Kong, majoring in religion and German. Outside of the Wheel, Yee is the president of the Hong Kong Student Association and the managing editor for In Via, Emory's Christian thought journal. In her free time, you can find her playing the saxophone, watching musicals, listening to Taylor Swift or enjoying a pumpkin cream chai!
