Three weeks after a petition was created to address safety concerns at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Wilber Hall, a decision has been made to install security cameras around the building. The petition, which garnered nearly 300 signatures, was initiated by students concerned about bike theft, vandalism, and general safety issues.
On Feb. 15, the anonymous petition organizer, known only as G.S., announced that Rusty Keyes, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and University Chief of Police, had approved the installation of six new cameras.
“Hey, y’all! I’m very pleased to inform you that a work order has been sent to the USM Physical Plant for the installation of six new cameras around the exterior of Wilber Residence Hall,” G.S. said.
The organizer also noted that lighting behind the building has been fixed and encouraged students with safety concerns to contact the University Police Department (UPD). G.S. explained that the petition aimed to improve safety by placing cameras around the residence hall’s perimeter, including the front and back lots.
G.S. was motivated to start the petition after personal experiences, including finding her bike seat replaced one day before class and hearing from other students about slashed tires. After her resident advisor informed her that there was little the police could do, G.S. decided to act.
“I heard from other people that their tires had been slashed, and there was nothing they could do about it, so I dug deeper,” G.S. said.
G.S. used resources such as the UPD and the Student Government Association (SGA) to bring attention to the issue.
Braxton Ruddock, SGA president, learned of the petition through word of mouth and an article in The Student Printz.
“Originally, the concern was brought to me by our senator,” Ruddock said. “He had heard from a few friends who were living in Wilber Hall. We saw a petition going around that gained some popularity, and following that up, we saw a Student Printz article.”
Ruddock acknowledged that student safety is a top priority for SGA and recognized the urgency after hearing concerns from residents. G.S. expressed surprise at the petition’s rapid growth.
“I didn’t expect it to get nearly 300 signatures; that was definitely a shock to me,” G.S. said.
For G.S., the camera installation will make commuting to and from Wilber Hall safer, particularly since she takes night classes. She believes the cameras will act as a deterrent to crime.
Ruddock confirmed that SGA is working to formalize the changes in legislation.
“One of our senators is working to codify these changes in legislation form,” he said. “As soon as we saw the different things going around, we released a statement on our Instagram letting our students know that we heard them.”
Looking ahead, Ruddock and his team plan to explore other areas of campus that may need improvements, encouraging students to use their voices for change. G.S. noted that communication was the most challenging aspect of achieving these safety updates.
“There were so many moving parts that there was room for miscommunication, and safety is such an important thing,” G.S. said.
Despite these challenges, G.S. expressed pride in the outcome, noting how the community came together to create a safer environment.
“We just want to leave things better than we found it, as Joe Paul says,” G.S. said.
Ruddock also expressed satisfaction with the changes.
“I feel incredible,” he said. “I think that was the whole reason I ran for a role like this, being able to see change on this campus and even after I’m gone people will be able to live in a Southern Miss that is, as Joe Paul says, better than I found it.”
SGA and UPD continue to work on implementing the changes. Students with concerns are encouraged to contact SGA or UPD for assistance.
