DeKALB | The safety of Greek Row, including the possibility of instituting a neighborhood watch, was analyzed Tuesday by the Safe/Quality Housing Task Force.

Decisions are in consideration now between the task force and the Student Association to determine if call boxes and cameras should be installed on city streets in the area. The largest issues facing installation is deciding who will manage it and how it will be paid for.

David Jacobson, 1st ward alderman-elect, said activism in the area is going to be difficult because of the high turnover with students.

“Greeks come in and Greeks come out,” Jacobson said. “A lot of the Greeks are more reactive than proactive, but safety as a whole is the issue.”

Mayor Kris Povlsen agreed with the need for more safety, but also questioned if the resources in discussion would be useful.

“If I was being attacked would I grab my cell phone and dial 911, or use a call box?” Povlsen said. “I don’t want to discourage anything to make the neighborhood safer, I just want to make sure the right resources are in the right place.”

Much of the committee said it depends on who you talk to when determining how safe the area is.

“On a Friday or Saturday I would feel fine walking around,” said James Zanayed, Task Force Member and NIU student. “I don’t think you want to be walking around alone at night…on, say, a Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Jacobson said he feels very safe walking around, but he said he knows where not to walk and it is always a good idea to walk with someone. Task Force Member Jerry Wahlstrom agreed with Jacobson and said he feels comfortable walking everywhere in DeKalb.

After hearing Zanayed’s comments, Povlsen said it upset him to hear them as mayor of DeKalb.

One of the issues also presented was the change in the area to student behaviors. Jacobson said in the past, many students on Greek Row turned a blind eye to danger, intoxicated or not.

“After two years of muggings and other events, it has become evident something can happen to students and they have to know the dangers,” Jacobson said. “You have to get it through to them that everyone, even students, are susceptible to crime and they have to be informed of that.”

Much of this discussion came to light by the task force after there was a report Sunday night of gunshots and that a large fight broke out in the 900 block of West Hillcrest Drive.

After a thorough investigation, police were not able to confirm this and found no evidence of either taking place.

“I think many Greeks are afraid of police in that they think of the police as someone trying to catch them doing something they shouldn’t be,” Jacobson said. “The police aren’t always the enemy; they’re there to help you.”

Further discussion of adding cameras, call boxes and increasing street lights will continue at the next committee meeting on May 10.