Ball State starts page for trespassed persons

There are now eight individuals listed on the Ball State trespassers website.

The site's creation was announced on Feb. 16. It identifies campus trespassers with names, photos and incident reports. The individuals listed have been banned from Ball State since Jan. 1.

"Individuals are restricted from campus because they are deemed to be a safety risk for the university community," Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president of Marketing and Communications, said in an email. "These bans are issued for violent or other criminal behavior such as theft."

The incidents of the eight trespassers include harassing a Ball State student, possessing child pornography, being involved in an altercation with an ex-girlfriend and possession of marijuana and smoking devices.

The individuals will remain there for two years or until their violation has been lifted.

Flyers will be posted in areas of public reception and will include the same information as the website.

"With more than 100 buildings and 700 acres, awareness is an important safety tool," Proudfoot said in an email.

The individuals have been declared trespassers since Jan. 1. Before this date, the procedures for collecting the trespassers' information were inconsistent. Now, police will take pictures of the trespassers to put on the website.

Proudfoot said Ball State is continuing to find new ways to increase the safety of campus.

"It came through a regular review of safety protocols and ways that we could advance university safety," Proudfoot said. "It seems to be a front end of a growing trend and one more tool that we can add to the safety toolbox."

Proudfoot added that this type of procedure is a growing practice on campuses. Virginia Tech and Coastal Carolina University have similar websites.

Junior early childhood education major Lacey Phillips, on the other hand, said the website does not make her feel safer because she will never look at it to be able to identify the trespassers.

Freshman journalism major Jaime Newman added that she does not see the cops on campus very often, "maybe once or twice going by LaFollette," she said.

A public safety email said if a trespassed person is seen on campus, they are not to be approached. Instead, the email suggested calling University Police at 765-285-1111 and taking note of the person's direction. 


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