UCA joining forces for Operation Safety Walk and assisting in the identification of safety improvements

Conway, Arkansas – Tonight, the administration, instructors, staff, and students of the University of Central Arkansas are walking the campus together as part of a safety precaution.

A safety list that identifies areas that require improvement was produced as a result of the walk.

Houston Davis, president of the University of Central Arkansas, stated, “We have to think about it through the lens of day and night, safety for our students and everyone here on campus.”

Davis remarked, “UCA is a very residential place. I would like to say between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,

I’m a college president, but I’m a small-town mayor 24 hours a day.”

Nearly 10,000 students call the “small town” home; many of them live there or commute to campus virtually every day. As mayor, Davis’s responsibility is to maintain his town’s best condition and everyone’s safety.

Phoenix Vu, president of the University of Central Arkansas Student Government Association, stated, “This year we are really pushing for accessibility, but we are also making sure that lights are working and that infrastructure is safe for everyone.”

Vu claims that he feels comfortable strolling on campus, but the goal of tonight’s event was to ensure that everyone else shared his sentiments.

In order to cover every square inch of campus, the individuals who assembled at the UCA PD were divided into roughly six groups, each of which had its own map and itinerary to follow.
“These people coming out and being willing to put in the work is what’s happening, not magic,” Davis stated.

Tonight, issues were noted such as weather-related pavement or sidewalk lifts and lights that were out due to usage and time.

People verified that campus safe phones connected directly to UCAPD, that wheelchair ramps were smooth, and that handicap push buttons operated as intended.