It is important to students and parents alike to know that there are safety precautions taken in Southern University’s dorms each semester.
As a result of recent incidents, freshmen males who initially move on Southern’s campus may be leery of their stay in J.S. Jones Hall, the freshmen male dormitory. According to Roosevelt Turner, director of Jones Hall, precautions are taken to keep the young men safe.
“We have security guards, camera’s and alarms on the doors,” he said.
Though Jones hall does take these precautions, not everyone feels safe.
“No, I don’t feel safe,” said Ryan Lee, a freshmen psychology major from Oakland, Calif. “The alarm system and communication system is shut down. You have alarms going off all the time, but you never know when it’s real.”
Bobby Poche, a sophomore electrical engineering major from Vacherie, said he felt safe when he stayed in Jones and he feels safe now staying in Morris H. Carroll Hall.
“Nothing has happened to make me feel unsafe,” Poche said. “We have security.”
Eric Jones, a resident counselor in Carroll Hall, also vouches the dorm’s security.
“We have security guards that patrol the circle. They make reports every night as they go to each dormitory,” Jones said.
Samuella V. Totty Hall, one of Southern’ newest dormitories, along with Camille E. Shade Hall, also takes precautions for the ladies that stay there.
“We have our doors locked,” said Hilda Prophet, houseparent of Totty Hall. “We have cameras in the office that show every floor of Totty. We always tell the students about keeping their doors and windows closed.”
Anna Crosby, a freshmen majoring in elementary education, said she does not worry about her safety in Totty Hall.
“There’s always someone downstairs and the doors are always shut at the back entrance,” she said.
The dormitories in the front of campus also take safety precautions for their residents.
“We have security and RA’s,” said Mercedes Wutherford, houseparent of Bradford Hall. “I walk the halls during the day. No children under 12 are allowed upstairs in the building and we never leave the office unlock.”
Residents of Wallace L. Bradford Hall agree that Bradford is safe.
“The RA’s are always at the desk and monitoring the halls so no one can really sneak in,” said Ledetri Jenkins, a freshman computer science major from Arcadia.
Aviance Martin, a freshmen majoring in nursing from New Orleans, said she feels safe in Mary McLeod Bethune Hall.
“They have around the clock security,” she said. “They have alarms for the back dorms.”
