Housing at the University of Cincinnati can often be divided into two main categories, on campus and off campus. However there is a strange grey area that many housing options fall into. These housing options typically are a privately owned building that is fully rented out by the University of Cincinnati Housing. These buildings are staffed with Resident Advisors, Community Coordinators, University Service Associates, Desk Assistants and many other members of the University of Cincinnati Residential Education and Development team. Even though many of these buildings (101 Corry, University Park Apartments, Usquare, etc) are staffed by UC and housed by UC, not all services of UC are provided to them. This petition looks to break the barrier for these grey area options between UCPD (University of Cincinnati Police Department) and CPD (Cincinnati Police Department). Before the fatal shooting of Sam DuBose in 2015 these two police departments worked together to assist the UC Campus and surrounding areas. After DuBose shooting a knee-jerk reaction was made to prevent further tragedies. 

Today, the housing that falls into this grey area does not get the support it needs. Many issues that are enforced by UCPD are not enforced by CPD. Additionally, the issues that are addressed are handled different by each police department as both departments are trained for their primary demographic. The main issue that has lead to the creation of this petition is the safety issue of residents in those grey area housing options, namely UPA. UPA south is situated on Calhoun street which is the edge of campus to many people. Other residence halls like Calhoun (currently under construction) and Siddal are within 1000 feet of UPA, but they are responded to separately. Currently, UPA South has one homeless man that is causing a public safety issue. Homelessness is not the issue here. Rather, this one individual has previously groped and otherwise touched/grabbed residents of UPA. Additionally the individual has “messed with” the residents by standing in-front of the entry making it so they can not enter or exit. Resident Advisors (RAs) are now responsible for asking this individual to leave and often the individual will become verbally aggressive and lash out on the RAs. When asked to leave the individual refuses and then CPD is called. CPD will ask the individual to leave only to have him return not too long after. Despite having numerous reports of aggression and unwanted touching to the police, nothing has been done to protect the residents of UPA. This is not only a safety issue for residents but for the individual as well. The individual is often under the influence and has, on more than one occasion, needed medical attention while in the UPA south vestibule. As temperatures continue to drop high levels of alcohol in the system can make it easier for cases of hypothermia to occur, making it so this individual could freeze to death more easily. It is understandable that being homeless is not a crime. Especially as many people pay more than 50% of their income on housing. In this case, aggression and assault have been documented. 

With campus virtual until Jan 24 many students have not returned to campus yet. But those residing on the Panera side of UPA South have become increasingly uncomfortable. Many will choose to walk to the other entrance at the far end of the building or take the stairway out. The stairway is not accessible from the outside as it locks automatically making it impossible for residents to enter this way. By signing this petition you agree that UC, UCPD and CPD need to come to a better agreement so no more housing falls into this grey area. Members that work in the housing provided by UC should be consulted when creating this plan. As RAs, community coordinators and other Residential Education and Development members will be enforcing the plan. If you are a member of the UPA community, signing this also shows that you feel unsafe. No one should feel unsafe in their own housing.