Marcus Bhan is just one of more than 2,000 new Catamounts moving into a dorm room this week at the University of Vermont. Many of his classmates are coming from faraway places, some setting foot in Burlington for the first time.”I’m just excited to be here, meet new people and start this next chapter of my life” said Bhan.The start of a new school year, sparking a familiar conversation about public safety concern going on downtown right now. The topic came up during Gov. Phil Scott’s weekly press conference on Wednesday.”None of this happened overnight,” said Vermont’s Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison. “This is years and years and years of policy decisions, budgetary decisions, and city council decisions that have led to this situation in Burlington.”Morrison spent 20 years policing the streets of Burlington and says these issues are not new.”The city has made their bed and they are going to have to ask for specifics to help turn the corner,” said Morrison.This is something Michael Schirling echoes. The former Burlington police chief is now the chief safety officer at UVM. Last year, the campus transitioned away from the college ‘blue light’ system and now use their own app, ‘CATSafe.'”Maybe it starts to get dark, you want to walk along with someone, you can pick a number from your contacts and have a virtual walk-along” said Schirling.Schirling encourages new students to visit Burlington’s downtown and check out its nightlife, but to always stay alert.”The reality is the more our folks frequent the downtown, the safer its going to be. The more positive activity there is, the less negative activity there is” said Schirling.This is a sentiment local businesses share. Many of which, rely on the back-to-school season to meet their bottom line.”Somewhere needs to have the nightlife scene. It’s a privilege to be a part of that and to be able to do that for Vermont and the college students as well,” said Zach Akey with Akes’ Place.Students, despite these concerns, say they look forward to exploring this new city and begin their college experience.First-year move-in continues through Thursday, with returning students arriving this weekend.
Marcus Bhan is just one of more than 2,000 new Catamounts moving into a dorm room this week at the University of Vermont. Many of his classmates are coming from faraway places, some setting foot in Burlington for the first time.
“I’m just excited to be here, meet new people and start this next chapter of my life” said Bhan.
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The start of a new school year, sparking a familiar conversation about public safety concern going on downtown right now. The topic came up during Gov. Phil Scott’s weekly press conference on Wednesday.
“None of this happened overnight,” said Vermont’s Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison. “This is years and years and years of policy decisions, budgetary decisions, and city council decisions that have led to this situation in Burlington.”
Morrison spent 20 years policing the streets of Burlington and says these issues are not new.
“The city has made their bed and they are going to have to ask for specifics to help turn the corner,” said Morrison.
This is something Michael Schirling echoes. The former Burlington police chief is now the chief safety officer at UVM. Last year, the campus transitioned away from the college ‘blue light’ system and now use their own app, ‘CATSafe.’
“Maybe it starts to get dark, you want to walk along with someone, you can pick a number from your contacts and have a virtual walk-along” said Schirling.
Schirling encourages new students to visit Burlington’s downtown and check out its nightlife, but to always stay alert.
“The reality is the more our folks frequent the downtown, the safer its going to be. The more positive activity there is, the less negative activity there is” said Schirling.
This is a sentiment local businesses share. Many of which, rely on the back-to-school season to meet their bottom line.
“Somewhere needs to have the nightlife scene. It’s a privilege to be a part of that and to be able to do that for Vermont and the college students as well,” said Zach Akey with Akes’ Place.
Students, despite these concerns, say they look forward to exploring this new city and begin their college experience.
First-year move-in continues through Thursday, with returning students arriving this weekend.
