This month, the Office of Student Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana held a New Orleans Safety Townhall featuring local law enforcement and government officials: Shaun Ferguson, Chief of Police for the city of New Orleans; Tyronne Walker, chief administrative officer for the New Orleans District Attorney (DA) and Changamire Durall, chief of Xavier University’s Police Department (XUPD), served as panelists for the conversation discussing pertinent issues, solutions, and strategies that students can utilize to keep themselves and others safe. Xavier’s Vice President of Student Affairs Curtis Wright acted as moderator.  

 The Metropolitan Crime Commission (MCC) released a report on March 7, indicating that in the first nine weeks of 2022, the rate of carjackings and homicides persists as the highest in the last four years. Through March 6, the number of shootings and robberies exceeded the total of last year’s reports. The panelists spoke on current initiatives in the DA’s office, how New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is engaging the community and the installation of new security cameras around Xavier’s campus.  

“Making sure that it’s safe, and we have justice is critical. We have not wavered from our commitment to make sure we have a criminal legal system that is fair and equitable to everybody. You can be smart and tough at the same time,” said Chief Walker, representing Jason Williams, the DA for Orleans Parish. 

Earlier this year, Xavier University of Louisiana launched a safety awareness campaign in response to the rise in criminal activity and violence in the city. The campaign’s goal was to educate the campus community on the best safety practices and encourage vigilance. The safety campaign, XUnited, launched on the heels of the first bomb threat the university received in early January; the second bomb threat the campus received followed in the early hours of the first day of Black History Month. Currently, threats are still under investigation.  

The event, held on Xavier’s campus, was also live-streamed for students’ families and those unable to attend in person.