Created seven years ago, Walksafe has about 350 volunteers who take turns patrolling the campus in easily identified red wind-breakers. It's available whether you are male, female, faculty or other staff. She noted the service is confidential and that everyone is welcome to use it. Walksafe recently participated in a McGill security audit with other student groups, McGill Security and municipal police. McGill ghetto landlords, they recommended, should lock the main doors to their buildings, install surveillance equipment and better maintain their fire escapes.
Computer security is another area where safety is an issue.
But Alan Greenberg, director of McGill's Computing Centre, said fewer computers would be stolen if people would take a few simple precautions. Storing data on spare diskettes is also crucial, he added, in the event of a computer malfunction or theft. But back-up data must be stored as far from a PC as possible, he warned. Thieves will usually take the box of diskettes lying beside a computer, too. It's also a good idea to create a password or encryption to gain access to personal computers, he said.