Student Council met in the Commerce School Tuesday to discuss student safety.
Student Council President Jalen Ross, a fourth-year Engineering student, addressed Council about recent developments in the search for second-year College student Hannah Graham.
Ross said it is important student representatives remember when they are approached that a connection between the human remains found by the police and Graham’s case has not been confirmed.
“We need to make sure that we’re helping that word stay straight,” he said. “Our official response is to wait for that confirmation.”
Ross said Council has not organized another vigil or event because of this lack of confirmation.
Ross also discussed the loss of second-year Engineering student Connor Cormier this past week.
“I’ve been approached by students saying we made a big deal about losing Hannah, [but] we haven’t made a big deal about losing Connor,” he said.
Ross said Council’s foremost concern is the people who are most directly impacted, namely the parents of students who have passed away. He said holding a vigil or similar event for Connor would be against his parents’ wishes.
“We won’t … create a deal where [his parents] don’t want one made,” he said.
Despite this, Ross said Council must continue to support classmates who have been impacted by these events.
Council also discussed ongoing safety concerns, citing research from Public Policy Prof. Sophie Trawalter.
Safety and Wellness Committee Chair Rachel Murphy, a third-year College student, said she recently talked with Trawalter about her research on the relationship between student safety and sense of community.
“If you feel safe in a space you’re more likely to feel a sense of community,” Murphy said. “Women feel less safe at U.Va., and also feel less of a sense that U.Va. is their home.”
Murphy said most women featured in Trawalter’s research felt there was not enough lighting around Grounds. She said this disproportionately affects women in STEM areas of study, who often have to stay later in labs on Grounds to do research.
“Their academic and career opportunities are being negatively affected,” Murphy said.
Murphy also said it is the University’s responsibility to expand safety measures off-Grounds if the University is not going to guarantee housing for all four years of school.
“[The University is] pushing lower-income students out in the periphery and keeping their wealthier students closer to Grounds and safer,” she said.
Student Council also discussed the possibility of improving the SafeRide van system.
Representative Body Chair Abe Axler, a second-year College student, said he has spoken to the University Police Department, who seem unwilling to have students drive for SafeRide.
Councilmembers discussed the possibility of increasing the current $12 transportation fee per student by a few dollars, either to increase the amount of SafeRide vans or to increase its hours of operation.
Director of Student Activities Emily Miles said many factors influence the decision to extend SafeRide, including issues of staffing and finance.
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