DePaul University, located in the heart of the bustling metropolis of Chicago, recently introduced a new safety policy in response to a number of recent off-campus robberies targeting students. The new regulation, to be enforced from October 2, 2023, necessitates all students, faculty, and staff carry their university-issued identification cards while on campus according to WGN 9.
Despite the robberies having occurred off-campus and outside of school hours, Block Club Chicago reports the university's administration hopes the measure will to increase safety by verifying only authorized personnel are within campus buildings. However, many question both the initiative's effectiveness and its potential to lead to racial profiling.
It's worth noting, other universities within Chicago;—including Columbia College, University of Illinois Chicago and Loyola University Chicago—are already enforcing similar identification card policies. But this doesn't entirely quell concerns about the impact it could have on personal liberties or address crime happening beyond the borders of the Lincoln Park campus
For many at DePaul, the solution lies in measures more directly aimed at the root issue. Improving lighting on and around campus, increasing the presence of public safety officers, and enhancing security measures in the vicinity of the university to offer students a safer journey to and from campus, are considered to be more effective strategies. Despite this, the university has been proactive in responding to the rise in robberies, with recent actions including lighting upgrades and safety program offerings, as well as exploring subsidized rideshare options for students according to Block Club Chicago.
