University of Illinois at Chicago

Following Student’s Murder, University of Illinois at Chicago Increases Campus Security Presence

Current and former students are calling for 24-hour security after a student was killed in a campus parking garage last month.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • December 06, 2019

The murder of a 19-year-old student in a parking garage at the University of Illinois at Chicago has prompted a swift security response from the school, which has faced pressure from students to increase safety measures.

For the remainder of the semester, from Dec. 1-15, the university will supply 24-hour security at all campus parking garages, according to a letter sent by John Coronado, UIC’s vice chancellor for administrative services. Previously, parking garage security was maintained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 pm.

“This will give us the opportunity to conduct a more detailed review of the situation before implementing permanent measures after that point,” Coronado said in the Nov. 26 letter to students.

Ruth George, a 19-year-old student at the school, was strangled to death in the early hours of Nov. 23 after entering the parking garage at around 1:35 a.m., according to surveillance footage. The man arrested for her murder, 26-year-old Daniel Thurman, was filmed leaving the garage at 2:10 a.m., according to police and school officials.

Following the tragedy, current and former UIC students started a Change.org petition urging the school to adopt new security measures to prevent a similar incident from taking place again. The petition has over 8,000 signatures, local news outlet Block Club Chicago reported.

In the letter, Coronado noted that the university’s hospital, which operates 24/7, will also have increased security staffing in its parking structures to cover all employee shifts. More private security guards will be on duty between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. to have an “extra set of eyes and ears for campus police,” he said.

While the changes are temporary for now, Coronado told The Chicago Sun-Times that he expects the 24-hour patrols to become permanent next semester. The previous security hours, which ended at 9 p.m. on weekdays, were thought to be sufficient because very little crime was reported in the parking garages.

“Even if it’s a perception issue, we want students to feel safe using them,” Coronado said.

Other safety resources at the school include the university’s SafeWalk program available 24/7, where a student patrol member or police officer can escort students to a destination on campus or a car. UIC Night Ride, a free transportation service for staff and students between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., can pick people up from on-campus facilities and take them to destinations within a designated area around campus.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular