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New sheriff works to improve community, university relationships |
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Thursday, 18 January 2007 |
by NICK IANNIELLO
News Reporter
Watauga County’s new sheriff, Len D. Hagaman, is looking to Appalachian State University’s Meet and Greet Committee to help foster a better relationship between students and the surrounding community.
The committee began last year and focuses on safety issues as well as integrating students into the local community.
“He’s very eager and willing to learn about and expand these programs,” Dean of Students Susie L. Greene said.
The committee is currently in the process of planning a second “Lock Your Doors” campaign.
The first campaign took place Sept. 6 last year, the day after Walk for Awareness, which is a program to raise rape awareness.
Thirty-five volunteers consisting of Appalachian faculty, staff and
administrators, as well as local law enforcement officers and community
volunteers went door-to-door to over 900 off-campus student residences
and distributed information on living safely within the community.
“Anytime there’s a dialogue with students, with administrators, with
police, it gives people on both sides an opportunity to express what
they’re doing,” Hagaman said.
In the coming weeks, the committee will meet with local landlords and a
representative from the Sheriff’s Office to begin plans for next year’s
program.
Counseling and Psychological Services Coordinator Kendal B. McDevitt
said Appalachian’s program already surpassed others like it at
universities such as Colorado University, which only reached 600 homes
in its initial effort.
“This is a small enough community that if we make the effort we can actually get to know each other,” McDevitt said.
Hagaman also made several other changes to the Sheriff’s Office that he
hopes will improve relationships between Appalachian and the local
community. One such change includes a police captain that acts as a
liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and University Police.
Hagaman also appointed a female head of investigations to help deal with assaults on women.
“Females can relate better to females in these types of situations,” Hagaman said.
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