The UW-Madison Langdon Street Neighborhood Watch program launched a new campaign Saturday in an effort to expand the current safety program that began in Fall 2006.
""It's an expansion on our responsibilities as a neighborhood watch,"" said UW-Madison junior Alex Sheridan, Watch program organizer and member of Alpha Epsilon Pi. ""We're still going to continue walking every Friday and Saturday evening, but we launched the campaign specifically to raise awareness on downtown safety.""
According to Sheridan the new campaign will feature a safety website off the UW-Greek website, which will serve as a safety database with statistics, tips, campus resources for victims and information for students who want to get involved.
He said the most successful part of the current patrols is how the Langdon Street community and the rest of the city have embraced the program.
""I think fraternities and sororities have accepted the fact and really embraced the fact that Langdon Street is our neighborhood,"" Sheridan said. ""What's nice about the future of the program—and with specific regards to the safety campaign—is that now we're collaborating with the other safety groups on campus.""
Sheridan said the program's goal remains the same whether the organization works with SAFEwalk or helps the Associated Students of Madison form their own neighborhood watch program, in addition to working with the Madison Police Department, the UW-Madison Police Department and the mayor's office.
""Really it's to raise awareness, promote public safety and encourage people to take the appropriate steps to protect themselves,"" Sheridan said.
