Students concerned about campus safety

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A volunteer program on the University of Texas campus aims to keep students safe by keeping them from walking home alone.

"I try to use the buddy system when I can," said student Erica Brady. "I just feel safer having someone else with me."

Brady is one of several student volunteers with the SURE Walk program on the UT campus. The student volunteers will walk home with any student, staff member or faculty member who'd rather not make the trip alone.

"We walk around campus all day every day, and it seems like a really safe place. But obviously, there are certain times where it's not so safe," said Brady.

Many students returning to campus from winter break are just learning about Esme Barrera's murder on New Year's Day. Barrera was killed in her home on King Street, near campus.

"Those stories that you hear about, you never think about them happening to you. But it obviously can, and nobody is immune to these types of things happening to them," said Brady.

UT Police Officer Darrell Halstead said Tuesday he has taken several phone calls and emails from parents concerned there has been no arrest in the Barrera case.

"Criminals aren't likely to approach you in a group, but they will definitely approach you if it's one-on-one," said Halstead, who advocates for the SURE Walk program and has advice for returning students and UT staff.

"Don't walk around at night by themselves, even though they have felt comfortable doing it before. They don't need to be," said Halstead. "Walk around with a friend or a group of friends."

SURE Walk volunteers are on call Monday through Thursday evenings from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Even the volunteers work in pairs -- one man and one woman -- so they are never walking alone, either.

The program is open to UT students, faculty and staff. And volunteers will walk anyone home on campus.

They have recently expanded their volunteer area to North Campus and West Campus, as well.