By Gabriela Silva Ponte and Racy Rafique
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has announced increased security measures in Kerr Hall and on campus following a months-long safety audit.
This comes after TMU introduced several additional “security enhancements” in the middle of the fall 2022 semester as part of the ongoing efforts to create a safer campus environment.
According to TMU, security guards, officers and crime prevention specialists will be “visibly” placed to monitor areas on campus with an emphasis on Kerr Hall.
TMU also said it will continue its partnership with Toronto Police Service to have officers patrolling campus, which the school said it started prior to the Fall semester in November.
In 2020, TMU announced it would not be moving forward with its controversial special constables program.
Students and faculty at the school had raised concerns about the negative impact special constables—who have the same authority as police—would have on the wellbeing of Black, Indigenous and racialized community members, as well as individuals experiencing poverty, addiction and mental health struggles.
Additional measures announced include the installation of 16 new CCTV cameras throughout campus and two new intercoms on Gould Street.
The months-long safety audit came in response to recent incidents on campus, including an alleged sexual assault in Kerr Hall East in October.
A 31-year-old man was charged in relation to the crime.
The audit was conducted in Kerr Hall to assess the building’s access points, stairwells and alcoves.
The university says it is in the process of installing 187 new locations for duress buttons between now and August 2023.
With files from Manuela Vega.
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