Duke increasing security on campus after student was raped

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Duke University is taking security measures after a student said she was raped on campus last month.

Larry Moneta, Vice President for Student Affairs, sent an email to students detailing security arrangements on Central Campus.

He said there would be expanded security coverage throughout the area. That includes security personnel assigned to Central Campus, as well as police vehicular patrols. New cameras have also been installed in key areas.

Automatic door closures have been installed on entry doors to common rooms, and they are adding card readers to the doors of common rooms.

"I think that's great," said Lora Griffiths, who works at the Office of Sponsored Programs at Duke University. "I've seen extra security just over here at East Campus just in the past couple of weeks so I appreciate it. I walk around here all the time."

In mid-December, a student said she was asleep in a common room at the Central Campus Apartment Building on Pace Street when a man woke her up. She said the man threatened her with a knife and forced her to have sex.

At the time, students questioned how the man got in the building. Now, Duke University is increasing security in response to student concerns.

Noelle Owusu-Akyaw used to live on Central Campus when she was a student at Duke University.

"I generally would support that," she said. "I enjoyed my time living on Central and personally never had any issues, thank goodness. But I do know it's exposed a bit more than the rest of the campus to the greater Durham community."

Many are happy the university is taking action with increased security.

"I think it's a great thing because I think students have a false sense of security so an increase in security kind of keeps them alert that they need to be mindful that not everything is a nice bubble," said Monique Harris, Peer Tutoring Program Coordinator at Duke University. "There are things that they have to watch out for."

Duke also sent the following links to students for safety resources: Safety Tips & LiveSafe App

"Evidently, it's necessary," said Julie Andresen, who is a faculty member in the English Department at Duke University. "I don't know what else to say. They've also secured the second floor Allen Building."